Delhi Police has received an allocation of Rs 11,400 crore from the Union Budget 2024-25 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on Tuesday. According to a budget document, Rs  270 crore has been earmarked for infrastructure development, including office and residential building projects for the force.

The Union Budget for 2024 had the unique distinction of being presented twice this year due to the Lok Sabha Elections. During the interim budget presentation on February 1, the budget estimate for the Capital Police was initially set at Rs 11,397 crore in the Union Budget Estimates. However, this amount saw a reduction of approximately 4.5 per cent, amounting to a cut of Rs 535 crore compared to the previous year’s budget estimate.

For the financial year 2023-2024, the Delhi Police got a budget estimate of Rs 11,932.03 crore. However, later it was revised to Rs 12,128 crore for the same period. The Delhi Police is responsible for maintaining and enforcing law and order in the national capital territory of Delhi while it is also responsible for traffic management in the city.

“The provision is for routing expenses as well as for various schemes to be implemented by Delhi Police such as developing traffic and communication network in NCR mega cities and model traffic system, upgradation and expansion of communication infrastructure, upgradation of training, induction of the latest technology and installation of traffic signals,” the official said.

Of the total budget allotted to the police department, a sum of Rs 10291.28  cr will be used for establishment related expenditure. The capital expenditure of Rs 889.08 cr excludes the sum of Rs  220.48 cr  meant for the development of police infrastructure.

The development of police infrastructure includes construction of office buildings and residential buildings for improving housing satisfaction level. Last year Rs 270 cr were earmarked for the infrastructure.

Just one year before India attained independence, Delhi Police was reorganised and its strength was almost doubled. In the wake of partition, a large influx of refugee population rolled in and there was a sharp rise in crime in 1948.

It was on February 16, 1948 that the first IGP of Delhi was appointed and the total strength of Delhi Police was increased by 1951 to about 8,000 with one Inspector General of Police and eight Superintendents of Police.

With the rise in the population of Delhi, the strength of Delhi Police kept on increasing and in the year 1961, it was over 12,000. Presently, the sanctioned strength of Delhi Police is 83,762. There are six ranges, 15 districts and 209 police stations in Delhi.

Today, Delhi Police is perhaps the largest metropolitan police in the world, larger than London, Paris, New York and Tokyo.