07 December,2010 07:05 AM IST | | Salil Urunkar
Expertise of police band now on hire for weddings and other events
Do Not be surprised to see the men in khaki providing the sound of music at weddings in the city.
The city police will now let people hire their band for private functions and ceremonies, besides renting out for functions the police recreation hall and sports grounds at the Shivajinagar headquarters. The gymnasium there will also be available for exercise enthusiasts at a nominal fee.
Usually the police band performs the national anthem and the Maharashtra Geet at functions and parades on August 15 and January 26.
A police circular, which says the police band has about 40 policemen and can perform in the jurisdiction of the Police Commissionerate, mentions the band can now be hired for private functions. "For the first hour, the rent will be Rs 10,000 and for each subsequent hour it will be Rs 2,000, with an extra Rs 500 as travelling charges," reads the circular.
Funds for welfare
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Headquarter II) Rajesh Bansode said the money generated from the initiative would be used for policemen's welfare.
"The revenue generated by hiring out the band, gym, ground, and recreation hall will be in turn used for the welfare of policemen. It will provide them a boost, as they will get more practice and further upgradation of infrastructure and amenities will be facilitated," said Bansode. "We have special upgradation plans for the gymnasium and are getting more treadmills as our first step."
The police recreation hall, which can accommodate 700 people, is much in demand, especially for marriage ceremonies and other functions.
"The use of the sports ground needs to be promoted. All these facilities are provided on first-come-first-serve basis," Bansode said. "People will have to obtain permission from the local police station for the function concerned."
In the past
In an earlier attempt to take the police band closer to the common people and also to celebrate the Police Commissionerate's 38th anniversary, the police band in July 2003 performed at six different venues. These were the Poona Club, Sarasbaug, Parnakuti near Yerawada, Pimpri Chowk, Shivaji Putala in Kothrud and Deep Bungalow Chowk.
The State Reserve Police Force Group I, II and IV, the Government Railway Police and the Pune Rural Police troupes had also participated in the celebrations.
