Tihar Jail in Delhi to be relocated with funding

Tihar Jail, one of the largest prisons in India, will undergo a major change. The Delhi government plans to relocate the jail to the city’s outskirts to reduce overcrowding. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced this plan during her budget presentation on Tuesday. The Delhi government has allocated Rs 10 crore for survey and consultancy services related to the shift. Currently, Tihar Jail is overcrowded, housing over 19,000 inmates, while it was originally designed for around 10,025 inmates. This situation has raised concerns about safety and living conditions. Tihar Jail is located in West Delhi, near Tilak Nagar and Hari Nagar. The new plan aims to ease these issues by developing a new jail complex in a different location. Officials have also requested additional land for this purpose, but previous attempts to secure space in Baprola were unsuccessful due to encroachment. In the meantime, the government is exploring short-term solutions. These include retrofitting existing jail structures to increase capacity. A source indicated that vertical extensions could allow the prison to accommodate more inmates for the next five to ten years. Additionally, the budget includes plans for a new society focused on the reform and rehabilitation of prisoners. This society will provide skill development programs and enhance the functioning of the prison's manufacturing units. Products made by inmates will be prioritized for purchase by government departments, which may lead to improved earnings for the prisoners through sales in local markets.