Maharashtra: Parksite becomes first green police station in state

While police stations across Mumbai are being revamped or relocated to tackle outdated infrastructure Parksite in Vikhroli East has quietly stolen the showmdashit has become Maharashtrarsquos first ISOcertified green police station Equipped with a large solar panel on its terrace Parksite has set a benchmark in sustainability even as others like Vakola Khar and Marine Drive continue to grapple with cramped spaces poor facilities or incomplete upgradesFrom flooded case files and mosquitoinfested toilets to an ecofriendly structure boasting modern amenities Parksite police stationrsquos transformation marks a rare success story amid the cityrsquos patchy police infrastructure overhaulParksite Maharashtrarsquos green police stationThe previous Parksite police station in Vikhroli East was built on a drain and nestled at the base of a hill During the monsoons rainwater would seep in and damage case files ldquoThe entire station would flood ruining crucial documentsrdquo recalled an officerOld Parksite police station in Vikhroli East PicSayeed Sameer AbedildquoThere was no place to sit The toilet was a mess Infrastructure was pathetic we donrsquot want to remember those daysrdquo said another officer ldquoHealth issues were common due to unhygienic conditions There was no space to park police vehicles Mosquitoes were a constant menacerdquo added another cop requesting anonymityAfter persistent followups by Senior Inspector Santosh Ghatekar and with the intervention of Special Commissioner Deven Bharti and Joint Commissioner S Jaykumar Joint CP Admin the station was shifted to a new ecofriendly buildingA total of 32 police officers and 154 constables shifted to the new building before the monsoon carrying case files with them The new G1 structure is Maharashtrarsquos first ISOcertified green police station powered entirely by solar panels ldquoWe are even setting up a zonal cyber hub hererdquo said Zonal DCP Vijaykant SagarVakola Finally a proper stationAfter years of challenges the Vakola police have finally received a new police station The previous building constructed in 1978 was located in the MHADA colony near the Western Express Highway in Santacruz EastThe previous building constructed in 1978 was located in the MHADA Colony right The new police station is located on Mumbai policeowned land at CST Road Vakola PicsNimesh DaveThe jurisdiction of the Vakola police covers a population of approximately five lakh residents The new police station almost ready for occupation is located on Mumbai policeowned land at CST Road next to the Forensic Laboratory in Kalina It is equipped with modern facilities addressing longstanding issues faced by personnel at the old stationFor years officers at Vakola police station struggled with poor infrastructure and lack of space The previous facility was rented with the police department paying monthly rent to MHADA The station operated out of 10 flats in a residential society causing operational challengesCurrently around 150 constables and 35 officers including the senior police inspector work in double shifts Issues like water leakage disputes with society members and limited parking have severely affected operations The police station is located on the ground floor while the upper three floors are occupied by residentsSenior Inspector Prakash Khandekar said ldquoThe Vakola police station is situated within a housing society that lacks a separate compound We also face space constraints for parking and storing seized vehicles However we now have a new station with all necessary facilities It is a groundplustwostorey structure Additionally a separate building is being constructed behind it for IPSlevel staff quartersrdquo ldquoIn the next to three months the new police station will be operationalrdquo he addedKhar Back to base but betterOne of the busiest stations in the West Region Khar police station was once housed in a small shed It was later moved to a building meant for a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporationrun veterinary hospital but that structure lacked basic amenities like an elevatormdashcreating difficulties for senior citizensThe underconstruction Khar police station right Khar police station is set to move back to its original location where a swanky multistorey building stands now PicsAshish RajeThere were also severe water shortages prompting the senior inspector to spend from his own pocket for water supply Now the Khar police station is set to move back to their original location into a swanky multistorey building ldquoOnce we shift the veterinary hospital will start functioning hererdquo an officer saidMarine Drive Shifting to a new locationThe Marine Drive police station which had been functioning from a Britishera barracks in South Mumbai is now being relocated to a nearby building However officers told midday that they deserve a larger facilityThe police station had been functioning from a Britishera barracks right The police station is now being relocated to a nearby building PicsSayeed Sameer AbedildquoWe are being pushed into a space where manoeuvring police vehicles will be difficultrdquo said an officer requesting anonymity ldquoPeople prefer shifting to a bigger building but we are being squeezed into a small structure where we will face multiple difficulties operatingrdquo the officer addedThe colonialera structure will be razed to make way for upscale apartments for senior IASIPS officersmdasheven as the dilapidated government quarters for constables pose a safety threat to their occupantsPersonnel at the Mankhurd Kanjurmarg Govandi and Kherwadi police stations among others are still waiting to be relocated to much better premisesKherwadi police stationThe Kherwadi police station like its Vakola counterpart operates out of rented premises in a MHADA colony It currently occupies 20 rooms and has been functioning under severe space constraints Despite efforts the department has yet to find a suitable location for a new facilityKherwadi police station operates out of rented premises in MHADA colony PicsNimesh DaveAround 100 constables and 30 officers work in double shifts According to sources many officers have declined postings here due to the heavy workload The staff is frequently deployed for bandobast duties and the area sees frequent accidents especially on the highwaySenior Inspector Kavidas Jambhle said ldquoThis is one of the oldest police stations built in 1965 We urgently need a new space Though the department is actively searching no suitable site has been identified within our jurisdiction A BMCowned plot was located but it hasnrsquot been finalised yetrdquoldquoWe lack adequate space for parking and for storing seized materials and vehicles We hope a new police station will be sanctioned soonrdquo he addedMankhurd Worst infrastructureThe Mankhurd police station part of the East regionrsquos Trombay division operates out of 30 rooms spread across three floors in an SRA building at Lallubhai CompoundMankhurd police station operates from an SRA building PicDiwakar SharmaThe station houses 229 personnel including 33 officers Due to the unhygienic surroundings many officers are forced to cover their noses or use camphor to mask the stench ldquoNot just air pollutionmdashwe deal with dust frequent headaches nausea and other issuesrdquo Senior Inspector Madhu Ghorpade saidThe station which handles mostly lowprofile cases from the surrounding chawls is flanked by a drain and a creek ldquoThe drain is choked with plastic bags During high tide seawater floods the area polluting the surroundings and making it unbearable Itrsquos nauseating and causes unnecessary mental stressrdquo Ghorpade saidIn addition to environmental issues Mankhurd police station has been at odds with the housing society which recently suspended lift services hampering operations ldquoWe had to use the stairs but after a meeting the issue was resolved They canrsquot cut our lift accessmdashwe pay R650 per room per month for 30 roomsrdquo Ghorpade saidGovandi police stationThe lush greenery surrounding the Govandi police station will soon face the axe to build a swanky new facility according to an officerThe greenery around the Govandi police station will soon face the axe according to a police officer PicSayeed Sameer AbedildquoThe life of this building is overmdashmost walls are peeling We are now shifting to a nearby defunct BEST depot building Repairs are underway and we hope to move before May endsrdquo the officer saidldquoThe current structure is dilapidated Soil testing has been conducted and a contract has been awarded for constructing a multistorey police station hererdquo the officer addedKanjurmarg police stationThe Kanjurmarg police stationmdashlocated in the East regionrsquos Bhandup divisionmdashwas established in 1987 during a period when Mumbai was grappling with intense gang warsKanjurmarg police station was established in 1987 PicDiwakar SharmaThe station was set up in an asbestosshed structure that had previously functioned as a BMC school Half of the building was handed over to the Mumbai police to help combat rising crime especially as notorious shooters sought refuge in nearby chawls Sources say the then police commissioner had requested the BMC to allow a fullfledged police station in the Salt Pan area to strengthen the police presenceHowever to date the station has no compound wall Officers said they must remain extremely cautious while handling criminals ldquoThey could escape police custody as there is no secure compoundrdquo said an officer ldquoWe too deserve improved infrastructure for better policingrdquo another officer addedatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params