Over two months has passed since the the construction of a two-storey building for police personnel in Maduravoyal on the Poonamallee High (PH) Road was completed. Yet, these police personnel continue to work inside a dilapidated asbestos-topped single-room shed opposite the new building.
According to police sources, they are waiting for a nod from top police officials.
In fact, this is not the first time that a new police building in the city remains locked for months due to lack of permissions from the state government and higher police officers. .
Earlier, the Muthapet police station in Broadway and Thirumullavoyal police station on the Chennai–Tiruvallur High (CTH) Road near Ambattur had to wait for months before it was opened. “We cannot take any decisions on our own. We have requested our higher police officers but the permission is pending,” said a police source.
Police personnel in Maduravoyal have small room in which they have to carry out an array of activities, which include filing crime reports, conducting enquires, detaining suspects, eating, changing into their uniform and resting.
The existing police station on PH Road is cramped with no space for visitors and parking facilities. It also lacks basic facilities like water taps.
The rush at the police station is causing many traffic problems. The situation gets worse during the monsoon when rainwater enters the make-shift building, crippling work in the station.
As part of the modernisation of the police force in the state, which includes providing better work places for police personnel, the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation (TNPHC), the nodal agency for any construction work related to the police in the state, started the work a year ago at a cost of Rs 60 lakh. As per plan, the new station was built on a total space of around 9,600 sq ft including the built-up area of 3,000 sq ft. It has six rooms including two lock-ups (separate for men and women), a conference room, a separate room for inspectors of Law & Order (L & O), crime and traffic wings and sub inspectors.
There is also a highly guarded room to store arms and ammunition. The first floor of the building consists of a records room, a lunch room and restrooms. Special ramps have also been constructed for the disabled.
At present, most of the interior work is complete while cement floor is being laid outside the police station for parking.
The new police building can accommodate the assistant commissioner office (traffic wing), Koyambedu range.
The Koyembedu police district consists of police stations at Amijikarai, Arumbakkam, Anna Nagar, Koyambedu, Koyambedu CMBT, Maduravoyal, Nolambur, Rajamangalam, Villivakkam, Kolathur, J.J Nagar and Thirumangalam.
