Special Correspondent
PUNE: The much-awaited relocation of the Pune Police Commissionerate is set to commence soon, with construction of the proposed new building to begin in the coming days. The relocation process has already started in phases, and the final stage will see the main offices being shifted.
With the city’s growing population, the workload on the police force has significantly increased, making the current Commissionerate building inadequate. This has necessitated the construction of a larger, modern facility with state-of-the-art amenities. The new building will be constructed on the existing premises of the Commissionerate, following the model of the Pune District Collectorate.
The project, estimated at ₹193.80 crore, has been approved by the Home Department, and the construction of the eco-friendly “green building” is expected to begin within the next two to three days. To facilitate this, the relocation of various Commissionerate offices has been initiated in phases, according to Additional Police Commissioner (Administration) Arvind Chawaria.
Currently, the Commissionerate houses the offices of the Police Commissioner, Joint Commissioner, Crime Branch, Special Branch, Foreigners’ Registration Office, and other departments, along with facilities like the Bharosa Cell and Citizen Facilitation Center. In the first phase, the Bharosa Cell, Citizen Facilitation Center, and Press Room will be relocated, followed by the Crime Branch offices.
The new building will feature a ground floor and five additional floors, equipped with facilities such as a waiting lounge for citizens, a gymnasium, conference halls, a solar energy system, and a wastewater treatment plant.
The Control Room and CCTV unit of the Commissionerate will be temporarily relocated to the Shivajinagar Police Headquarters during the construction period. Work on this relocation has already begun.
The Pune Police Commissionerate was established in 1965 and initially operated from the Bund Garden Police Station premises. Later, it was moved to the current British-era building. A new building was constructed in 1976, which has served as the Commissionerate since then. This year marks the golden jubilee of the building. The last renovation of the structure was undertaken during the tenure of former Police Commissioner Dr. K. Venkatesham.
The upcoming state-of-the-art building aims to address the growing needs of the police force and enhance services for the citizens of Pune.
