The function was attended by several IPS officers and politicians including the Commissioner of Police, D Sivanandan, Joint Commissioners of Police K L Prasad, Bhagwant More (Administration), Rakesh Maria (Crime) and Minister for State for Home (Urban) Nasim Khan and Santacruz MLA Kripashankar Singh.

“I am used to seeing police quarters which are only 10x10 ft rooms with a tiny kitchen and bathroom. However, the quality of life for constables is going to take a new turn with these wonderful structures. Also, the establishment of residential quarters for over 1,500 recruits will give an impetus for their training,” said Sivanandan.

Both the quarters and the hostel are located on a 25 acre plot where space has been designated for a parade ground and playground. While the flats are located in nine buildings, the hostel building is a four-floor structure. The estimated expenditure for the projects was around Rs 25 crore, said executive engineer R M Gosavi.

Patil stressed that the successful completion of the quarters and the hostel was a proof that Maharashtra Government is working for the welfare of its police personnel. “I am thankful that in a city like Mumbai where the smallest of space is encroached upon given a chance, this initiative will be instrumental in providing a roof to several police families and budding police personnel,” said Patil who added that this was the tip of the iceberg as a major chunk of constables still live in substandard houses.

“There are only 20,000 quarters for over 38,000 constables and 5,000 officers in the city. As many as 1,200 quarters are not in a condition to be used. We have decided that by the next three years, 80 per cent of the police force should have quarters to stay in,” said Patil.

On a request by Kripashankar Singh that the city’s police commissioner and the State Director General of Police be given independent bungalows in the city owing to their posts, Patil said that the officers will soon get independent residences.

Weapons training for cops on yearly basis
Patil also revealed that withing six months, the process of receiving and processing requests sent by police officials to the DGP office will be a transparent affair. "Often police personnel across ranks send requests to the DGP office which may range from seeking a transfer to a preferred place of retirement to seeking a transfer out of a Naxalite infested area. We are in talks with Tata Consultancy Services and a few other agencies to set up an online software which would be fed with extensive data about all those constables or officials who have sent requests for change of postings,change of residence etc,' said Jayant Patil.

The data about the person's history, cases, posts and postings as well as reasons for wanting a change of residence will be fed into the software which will also have an online placement chart ensuring easy access.

Patil also said they will be taking serious steps against the Naxalite aggression. He also said starting this year, all the policemen will be encouraged to undergo weapons training at the city's firing ranges on a yearly basis. The defunct firing ranges will also be revived.