State Jails 149% Overcrowded; 14,608 More Inmate Slots Planned
2
Nagpur: Maharashtra's 60 jails are bursting at the seams, with inmate occupancy at a staggering 149% of the sanctioned capacity. The state's prison population averaged 40,634 over the last three years against an approved capacity of just 27,184, according to an affidavit filed before the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court recently.The home department's affidavit, submitted by principal secretary (appeals & security) Radhika Rastogi, came in response to a high court directive in criminal writ petition (No.256/2025) filed by Nanded-based undertrial Sachin Lone through counsel Ratna Singh.
The state has chalked out an ambitious plan to address this chronic overcrowding, including the construction of nine new jails across key locations."New central and district prisons are being established at Palghar, Yerwada (Pune), Thane, Gondia, Hingoli, Bhusawal, Ahilyanagar, and Baramati," the affidavit states. Collectively, these projects will create 14,608 additional prison slots. Among them, Palghar and Baramati projects are already underway, while Ahilyanagar has completed contractor selection and begun work.The state is also building 44 new barracks in existing prisons to accommodate 1,370 more inmates. An additional 67 barracks are proposed in the 2025-26 budget across 12 prisons, aimed at easing congestion in key facilities.Land acquisition is underway for 16 more proposed prisons, including those in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nagpur, Mankhurd, and Satara. The affidavit notes that construction will begin once suitable land is secured and necessary clearances are obtained.The state has also proposed a massive new jail in Thane with a 3,000-inmate capacity. A project management consultant has been appointed, and further formalities are in process. Approvals have also been granted for new barracks in Yerwada, Buldhana, Satara, Nagpur, and Yavatmal.To manage inmate load, authorities have been transferring prisoners from overpopulated jails to facilities with lower occupancy. In parallel, the state is implementing the '
Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme
', which offers financial aid to undertrials and convicts who are unable to pay bail sureties or fines. Thirty inmates have already benefited under this initiative.The affidavit also refers to earlier submissions made before the Supreme Court and human rights bodies, demonstrating the state's commitment to long-term correctional reform.
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