Puttur: Renovation of police residential quarters at Berike and construction of new housing units at 34 Nekkilady are progressing, with a total of 24 houses expected to become available for police personnel once both projects are completed.

The two projects are aimed at improving accommodation facilities for police staff in the area and providing better living conditions for personnel who currently depend on rented private accommodation.

Berike quarters undergo Rs 16 lakh renovation

At Berike, two three-storey buildings comprising 12 residential units are being renovated at an estimated cost of Rs 16 lakh. The buildings, which had deteriorated over the years due to a lack of maintenance, had become difficult to occupy.

Damaged roof tiles, problems with the water supply and the growth of vegetation around the premises had affected the condition of the quarters. The overgrown surroundings also posed safety concerns, with the possibility of snakes entering the premises.

Due to these problems, police personnel had vacated the government accommodation and shifted to rented houses in the private sector.

The ongoing renovation is expected to restore the buildings and make the 12 houses suitable for occupation again. According to the contractor, approximately 90 per cent of the tile-laying work and 70 per cent of the painting work have been completed.

The remaining repair work is expected to take another one to two months. Once the renovation is completed, the quarters will provide accommodation for police personnel who wish to stay closer to their place of work.

The restoration of the buildings is also expected to prevent further deterioration of government property and make better use of the existing residential infrastructure.

Unused senior officers’ quarters need attention

Meanwhile, a separate house constructed for senior police officers at Berike remains locked and unused.

The condition of the surrounding premises has drawn the attention of local residents, who have suggested that the area be cleaned and the necessary repairs undertaken to protect the government property.

They have pointed out that regular maintenance and attention to the surroundings would help prevent the building from deteriorating further. Leaving government residential properties unused and unattended could eventually result in additional expenditure on repairs and restoration.

The condition of the unused house has also highlighted the importance of maintaining all police residential facilities, particularly when accommodation remains a requirement for personnel posted in the region.

New residential quarters coming up at 34 Nekkilady

At 34 Nekkilady Junction, construction of two new reinforced cement concrete (RCC) buildings is underway on the site of the old police residential quarters.

The two buildings will together accommodate 12 houses, adding to the available residential facilities for police personnel in the area.

The construction work is expected to be completed by April-May 2027. Once ready, the new buildings will provide additional accommodation options for police staff and help address their housing requirements.

The location is considered convenient for personnel posted at Uppinangady police station, which is situated approximately one kilometre away from the residential complex.

The proximity to the police station is expected to make the new quarters particularly attractive to personnel seeking accommodation close to their workplace. It could also reduce the need for staff to travel longer distances between their homes and the police station.

Combined projects to provide 24 residential units

The renovation at Berike and the new construction at 34 Nekkilady represent efforts to improve police housing infrastructure in the region.

While the Berike project will restore 12 existing houses, the Nekkilady project will add another 12 newly constructed residential units. Together, the two projects will make a total of 24 houses available for police personnel upon completion.

Access to suitable residential accommodation near their workplaces is an important requirement for police personnel, whose duties often involve irregular working hours, emergency responses and extended periods of service.

The availability of government quarters can help reduce the financial burden of renting private accommodation while allowing personnel to remain closer to their respective places of duty.

With renovation work at Berike nearing completion and construction progressing at 34 Nekkilady, the projects are expected to strengthen residential facilities for police staff in the Puttur region. Timely completion and proper maintenance of the buildings will be essential to ensure that the accommodation remains useful for personnel in the years ahead.