Mumbai police finally get state-of-the-art firing range in Ghatkopar

The firing range walls will be equipped with baffle walls, rubbers, and embedded wood, preventing stray bullets from causing any damage. Pic/Rajesh Gupta

A decade later, the city police are set to inaugurate their new 6,000-square-metre long-range firing range in Ghatkopar. The state-of-the-art facility accommodates up to 10 police officers simultaneously for practice. Despite facing opposition from the local community and BJP MLA Ram Kadam, who insisted on finding an alternative location, Kadam acknowledged the need for the facility and foresees a potential relocation in the future.

According to police sources, the firing range walls are equipped with baffle walls, rubber, and embedded wood, effectively preventing stray bullets. A senior officer said, "This technology prevents any accidental firing of stray bullets, addressing the concerns of the locals and ensuring a safer environment.

The new firing range will provide relief to Mumbai police officers. Previously, in the absence of a long-distance firing range, city police officers had to visit the Maharashtra Police's firing range in Goregaon and Alibaug for long-range practice. With the establishment of their own range, the city police can now engage in regular long-range firing practice more conveniently.

"Long-distance firing ranges are required to effectively practice with AK-47s, MPs and automatic rifles. The lack of such facilities has been causing significant inconvenience, as regular firing practice is crucial for addressing untoward situations," said the officer. Sources have also said that the firing range has been computerised where the target can be set on the computer and the same will move so the officers can aim at the target in real-time. The range will also have multifunctional shooting targets.

"For example, in scenarios where a target is moving unpredictably to avoid being hit, this firing range proves beneficial for training officers to handle such situations. It enables them to adjust their aim accordingly, and if they miss the target, the computer system accurately displays the point of impact," the officer added. As per Mumbai Police, every officer has to shoot at least 40 bullets a year which is the minimum requirement and special forces such as QRT and Force One have to fire over 100 bullets a year. Around 6,000-7000, bullets will be fired every day from morning to evening till 4 pm at the Ghatkopar range.

6K-7K
No of bullets to be fired every day