Maharashtra Gov Approves Independent Police Station for Ulwe, Allocates ₹2.12 Crore for Construction

Mumbai: The Maharashtra state home department has approved the establishment of an independent police station in Ulwe, Navi Mumbai. A Government Resolution (GR) issued on October 10 has allocated ₹2.12 crore for the construction of the new facility, aimed at addressing the growing law enforcement needs in the rapidly developing area.

The decision follows a proposal submitted by the Director General of Police (Planning and Coordination) on August 12, 2024. The proposal emphasized the need for a dedicated police station due to Ulwe’s population surge, driven by large-scale construction projects and major infrastructure developments. The area is projected to gain an additional 160,000 residents in the coming years, leading to an anticipated increase in crime rates.

The region’s infrastructure has seen significant expansion, including the opening of the Atal Setu bridge and a new coastal road connecting Shivaji Nagar to the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA). This is expected to result in a substantial increase in traffic flow, further straining existing policing resources.

Currently, law enforcement in Ulwe falls under the jurisdictions of the NRI Coastal Police, Nhava Sheva Police, and Panvel City Police, creating operational challenges. An official noted that the overlapping jurisdictions made routine tasks like passport verification and issuing character certificates cumbersome for both residents and the police.

"Due to rapid development in Ulwe, there is a pressing need for a dedicated police station," the official explained. "The establishment of this new facility will streamline policing efforts in the area."

The GR also authorizes the police department to define the jurisdictional boundaries of the new police station. However, it stipulates that manpower for the station must be sourced from within the existing workforce of the Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate, which currently operates 20 police stations.

Efforts are underway to hold a ground-breaking ceremony for the police station on a plot allocated by CIDCO in Ulwe’s Sector 10. "We are aiming to conduct the ceremony before the election code of conduct comes into effect," an officer involved in the project stated.