Welcome to swanky police stations

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Welcome to swanky police stations
New Frazer Town Police Station Is First Of Many Ready For Inauguration
Times of India

Bangalore: No longer will the police station be dank, dark, smelly and paanstained. Bangalore’s crime cells are pushing for the corporate look — swanky and stylish. Thanks to generous help from software giants, corporate groups, builders, banks and others.

Of 88 police station buildings, 15 are getting new structures with modern lock-ups, plush reception areas, work stations and restrooms for the constabulary and cozy cabins for inspectors and their deputies. Utmost care is going into the structure, with the focus being on providing natural light and air, and architecture befitting Bangalore’s image.

The Fraser Town police station building is the first to be inaugurated by chief minister N. Dharam Singh on Friday. The then CM S.M. Krishna had laid the foundation stone for the building in February 2004, after NRI builder Ronald Colaco came forward to build it at his own cost. Incidentally, Colaco is developing a township at Devanahalli.

The new building is spread over nearly 10,000 sqft, with a vast reception area, granite flooring, a room for the inspector and three cabins for sub-inspectors. This apart, there will be a conference hall, computer room, restroom and other basic amenities.

This modernisation project is the initiative of police commissioner S. Mariswamy. The police department does not take money or a grant for constructing the buildings. Rather, in a turnkey arrangement, the donor completes the job and hands over the building.

“Buildings with a decent look will change public conception about the police force,’’ says joint commissioner of police (administration) Gopal B. Hosur. “Good environment at the workplace will also help the force.”

The police are looking for more help from corporates and institutions to develop the remaining station buildings in the city. But, there is a word of caution from retired and serving officers. “Before giving consent for somebody to modernise a police building, the antecedents of the donor should be verified. Corporate sector and reputed institutions should be preferred. Individuals, dubious builders, resident groups and others who need police help in some form for their business should be avoided,’’ a retired police commissioner said. So far, we have not compromised while selecting the donors and will not do so in future too, a senior police officer in the city said.