Swanky police stations for city

Swanky police stations for city
New swanky buildings are keeping the police on par with the city’s hi-tech image
The Times of India


If you're driving past Kengeri, near the bus stand, a swanky building with glass exteriors stands amid rows of shops and restaurants. Don't mistake it for a software firm. The stylish building houses the Kengeri police station. It is among several in the city, which got a major makeover a few months ago.

Keeping with the city's hitech image, Bangalore's police stations have begun to sport a corporate look - swanky and stylish. The generosity of software giants, corporate groups, builders, banks and others has helped provide a major facelift for the city's police stations. Modern lock-ups, plush reception areas, work stations and restrooms for the constabulary, and cabins for inspectors. These are among the facilities that have come up at several new police station buildings across the city. In 2004, the police had identified over 50 of the 89 stations to be renovated. Some of them are at Frazer Town, Basavanagudi, Ulsoor Gate, Kengeri, Upparpet, Yelahanka, Yeshwanthpur and Adugodi. Remodeling of the nearly century-old Basavanagudi police station building in Sir M N Krishna Rao Park, which is a major landmark in the city, is also being taken up.

Many of the old buildings lacked even basic amenities like water supply and restrooms for women. Leaky roofs and crammed areas for staff, among other problems, had plagued the personnel for several decades. Now, care has also gone into the structure, with a focus on providing natural light and air, and architecture befitting Bangalore's image, which houses some of the major IT/BT firms.

The Karnataka State Police Housing Corporation too has taken up works related to up gradation of police stations. Among the first to be renovated and modernised was the Frazer Town police station building, which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister Dharam Singh in 2004. NRI builder Ronald Colaco came forward to build it at his own cost. The then Chief Minister S M Krishna had laid the foundation stone in February last year. The new building costing Rs 60 lakhs 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 is a conference hall, computer room, and restroom with other basic amenities.

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. The initiative is also seen as a major step towards public-private partnership. Several corporates in Bangalore have come forward to improve working conditions at police stations. The senior police officers also feel that such measures will improve public-police relations.

Toyota Kirloskar took up the Rs 50 lakhs cost for the Kengeri police station. While the corporates and other donors see this partnership as a contribution to society, the personnel are benefited in many ways. "The ambience in the new building is good. The old building couldn't even accommodate all the personnel in the station", a constable attached to the Kengeri police station said.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Administration) Gopal B Hosur said nearly 30 percent of police station buildings identified have been renovated or newly constructed. Work is in progress on the remaining stations, he said. He felt that the public's perception of the police would improve with measures like buildings with a decent look.