Mumbai News: Minister Yogesh Kadam Orders Comprehensive Redevelopment Plan For Arthur Road Jail And Byculla Women’s Prison With Green Energy Focus

Mumbai: Yogesh Kadam, Minister of State for Home, has directed officials of the Home Department to prepare a revised and comprehensive redevelopment proposal for Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail and Byculla women prison taking into account the needs of both prison staff and inmates.

Chairing a meeting at the state secretariat (Mantralaya), Kadam said the existing Arthur Road facility is in a dilapidated condition and urgently needs modern infrastructure. He emphasized that the new plan must include detailed provisions for male and female staff, as well as separate sections for male, female, transgender, and judicial custody inmates.

Kadam stressed that the redeveloped prison should be a multi-storey structure, environmentally friendly, and designed to maximize the use of green energy. He instructed the concerned officers to study similar high-security prison models from across the world and incorporate best practices into the design. Security features must also be strengthened, he added.

The minister advised that an additional Floor Space Index (FSI) should be sought from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Once this is approved, a detailed redevelopment plan should be submitted for further processing.

In addition to Arthur Road Jail, Kadam also directed the preparation of a redevelopment blueprint for the Byculla Jail.

Looking ahead, the minister suggested inspecting a 22-acre plot in Mankhurd for the construction of a new jail facility. To avoid legal or procedural hurdles in the future, he instructed that this land be officially reserved for prison infrastructure development.

Senior officials present at the meeting included Radhika Rastogi, Principal Secretary (Home); Archana Tyagi, Director General and Managing Director of the Maharashtra Police Housing Corporation; Joint Secretary Mr. Dhapate; and representatives from the Urban Development and Prisons Departments.