Tihar-like central jail to come up on Odisha capital outskirts

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has plans to construct a central jail on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar like that of the one in Tihar of New Delhi and construction work of the proposed correctional facility will begin very soon, a senior official in state Home (Jails) Department said today.

According to the source, a 91-acre patch of land has been identified and a blueprint has already been prepared for the ambitious project. The existing Special Jail-Bhubaneswar, located in Jharpada area of the State Capital, is to be renamed as ‘Central Jail-Bhubaneswar’. After completion, the new correctional facility will accommodate up to 3,000 inmates at a time.

Presently, the special jail has provisions to lodge as many as 991 detainees at a time.

As per the accorded project plan, the new jail will have a special cell for transgender inmates. It will also have an ultra-modern 24×7 hospital meant for the inmates and staff. There will be a special outpost near the jail.  A superintendent and two jailers are to be appointed in the central facility.

A vocational unit on the jail premises will train the inmates how to manufacture and weave gamchha (towel), blanket and coir mat etc. This will be the largest jail in Odisha and will have all basic amenities available in Tihar correctional facility.

Notably, land identified for the central jail is located in between Mahatma Gandhi Academy of Prisons and Correctional Services at Chhatabar and open air jail at Jamujhari of Bhubaneswar.

About 45-acre patch of the land will be used for the construction of jail and remaining 46 acre for the construction of staff quarters.