Constabulary is the bedrock of policing in any force and the national Capital is no exception. From generating Intelligence to tracking criminals, constables do it all. However, despite all the hard work and long hours they put in, the city’s cops are forced to live in inhospitable, dingy barracks. Hardly a situation to inspire model policing!
Keeping the wellbeing of the force in mind, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi has taken it upon himself to improve the living conditions of his men and provide modern and comfortable barracks in police lines and every police station in the Capital.
“A model barrack with 32 beds has been readied for Constables and Head Constables of the Mounted Police unit at Civil lines in North Delhi,” a senior officer told The Pioneer.
As part of the top cop’s initiative, specially-designed bunk beds have been provided in spacious dormitories in the barrack. An almirah and a box have also been provided with every bed to give the men some much-needed space to keep their valuables.
These model barracks will be set up in every unit, including all 180 police stations in the city and the Delhi Police training college, soon after the first one is officially launched at the Provisioning and logistics unit by Bassi on Thursday.
“The model barracks will have comfortable beds with good quality mattresses and bedding and will be 6 feet 5 inches in length. Made of high quality iron, each bunk bed will be portable,” said the officer.“The model barracks will also be roomy as they will save space by adopting the bunk bed concept,” the officer added.
Of the 80,000-strong police force, 50,000 are Constables and Head Constables who are usually accommodated in the traditional barracks at police stations and their units.
Before Independence, the police barracks in Civil lines area where the Reserve, Armed Reserve and recruits were accommodated were quite spacious as the strength of the Delhi Police was just 10,000 in those days. However, with the passage of time and the increasing population of the city, the strength of the Delhi Police has reached 80,000, resulting in overcrowding in the once comfortable barracks. Now, apart from Civil lines, every police station has its own barrack for personnel below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspectors, the official added.