Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today approved the design and plan for three ultra-modern high security new jails at Amritsar, Bathinda and Muktsar to be constructed at a total cost of about Rs. 300 crore within two years.
Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s office said that the Chief Minister was presiding over a high level meeting of the Jails department here at his official residence this morning. He asked the Jail Department to install CCTV cameras, Mobile Jammers and other security equipment to ensure proper security in these upcoming Jails besides, chalking out the modalities to ban two storied construction up to 100 feet from the outer walls of these new jails.
The Chief Minister further asked the Jails department to adopt the process of consolidated tendering for all these jails to ensure the participation of big construction companies for quality work.
It was informed in the meeting that the Central Jail Amritsar would be constructed over an area of 49 acres and Central Jail Bathinda over 38 acres with the capacity to accommodate 2000 prisoners in each, whereas the Muktsar Jail would accommodate 1000 inmates and be constructed over an area of 25 acres. All the new jails would have identical plan that included 26 feet outer wall with number of 40 feet high Peripheral Towers and one 80 feet Central Tower for observing even slight movements inside the Jail.
Expressing the need to create self-discipline amongst inmates, Mr. Badal asked the Jail authorities to create Educational and Sports facilities like a School or a College in the new Jails, besides Skill training opportunities for inmates.
Prominent amongst those who were present in the meeting included, Principal Secretary Home Mr. DS Bains, Special Principal Secretaries to the Chief Minister Mr. KJS Cheema, Mr. Gaggandip singh Brar and Mr. Gurkirat Kirpal Singh, Secretary Jails Mrs. Raji P Srivastva, DGP Jails Mr. RP Meena, IG Jails Mr. Jagjit Singh and Chief Architect Mrs. Sapna.