Station ready,cops yet to move in

“The construction of this police station building started around the same time as of the other new buildings at Ghatkopar,RCF,Charkop,etc. Though the new building at RCF was inaugurated in May and the one at Charkop last month,we are yet to receive a date for the inauguration of our new building. The phone,water lines and the electricity connections are in place. We are hoping that the inauguration finally happens on August 15 which is this weekend,” said senior police inspector S Dhumale. The MHB police station at present is located on the ground and first floors of a police housing colony. Despite plaster peeling off the wet walls owing to water leakage,the police personnel continue to function in the cramped office constructed in rooms meant for residential purposes.

“The police station has been functioning from this police housing colony since 1985. It is basically 1BHK flats transformed into cubicles and office cabins. The rooms are small and along with files and registers that need to be stored in cupboards,the available area becomes even smaller. So,when the construction of a new building was announced,we were ecstatic. Though the construction of the building was completed several months back,we haven’t relocated for want of a formal inauguration,” said a police officer.

Additional Commissioner of Police (North Region) R E Pawar said that they are in consultation with the Home Department and it’s only a matter of time before the police station is relocated. Meanwhile,the police officers say besides taking down criminal complaints,they also have to cater to various grievances of the residents of this six-storey police colony that houses their police station. “The residents of this building complain about water shortage,an ill-maintained lift,plaster falling off the wall and faulty tube lights. As we are lodged in the same building,we are expected to at least hear their complaints out,if not resolve them,” said a constable who looks into residents’ complaints.