Mangaluru: Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Tuesday announced that the district prison will be shifted to the outskirts at the earliest once essential infrastructure works, particularly the compound wall, are completed. The relocation is aimed at improving security, easing pressure on the existing facility, and reducing inconvenience to nearby residential areas.
₹120 crore project with phased completion plan
The minister said the new prison project will require an estimated investment of ₹120 crore, of which ₹50 crore has already been earmarked for constructing the compound wall. He noted that most of the barracks at the new site have already been built and are structurally ready.
According to him, once the compound wall is completed, the authorities can begin shifting inmates without waiting for every interior element to be finished. Remaining interior and support works can be executed in later phases without affecting the transfer process. This phased approach is intended to speed up the relocation while ensuring safety standards are met.
He added that recurring incidents inside the existing prison, including scuffles among inmates, have underlined the need for upgraded facilities and better-controlled infrastructure.
Budget support requested from Chief Minister
Parameshwara said he has requested Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to approve the required allocation during the pre-Budget meeting. He expressed confidence that the necessary funds would be sanctioned in the upcoming State Budget.
He also addressed public complaints regarding mobile network disruption in neighbourhoods around the current prison. Mobile jammers installed inside the facility had reportedly been damaged by inmates, resulting in irregular functioning and signal spillover beyond the intended zone.
The minister said a technical team has been instructed to recalibrate and regulate the jammer system so that it functions strictly within prison limits and does not affect the public telecom network outside the campus.
Police housing scheme extended till 2030
Highlighting police welfare measures, the Home Minister announced that the State government will continue the Police Gruha housing scheme until 2030, with priority given to providing accommodation for serving personnel.
When the scheme was launched in 2015, the unit construction cost per house was ₹18 lakh. Due to rising material and labour costs, this has now increased to ₹32 lakh per unit. However, only about 40 per cent of the originally proposed quarters have been completed so far, leading to the extension of the scheme.
He said his goal is to ensure that all 1.10 lakh police personnel across the State eventually receive official residential quarters. At present, a significant portion of the force still depends on private housing.
He also announced that 100 additional police quarters would be sanctioned next year for the city unit to reduce the current accommodation gap.
Drug enforcement and policing priorities
The minister said police personnel work under extreme pressure and challenging conditions to maintain law and order and ensure that festivals and major public events are conducted peacefully. Strong policing, he noted, has contributed to the State’s high ranking in attracting domestic and global investments.
On narcotics control, he said making the State drug-free is not an easy task, but enforcement agencies are conducting daily seizures and intensifying crackdowns on suppliers and distribution networks. He stressed that parental vigilance and continued monitoring of students are essential to containing drug abuse.
Strict action will continue against drug-related offences, with no relaxation in enforcement, he added.
New police stations and coastal security upgrades
Responding to demands for new police stations and buildings, the minister said proposals will be evaluated according to established guidelines before approvals are granted. Infrastructure will be sanctioned wherever justified by population coverage, workload, and security needs.
He also pointed to gaps in the Coastal Security Police wing, stating that many patrol boats are in poor condition. Of the 15 boats currently listed, only three to four are operational. Funds have been sought to repair and upgrade the fleet and related facilities to strengthen sea surveillance and coastal patrol capability.
Senior police officials, including the Western Range IGP, the city Police Commissioner, and the district SP, were present at the programme along with local elected representatives who submitted requests for new station buildings. With prison relocation, housing expansion, and coastal security upgrades in focus, the government has outlined a broader push to modernise policing infrastructure.
e relocated after compound wall completion under ₹120 crore plan; police housing scheme extended till 2030.