Maintenance work of police infrastructure to change hands

Kolkata: The maintenance work of police infrastructure and other projects in the pipeline will be handed over to the West Bengal Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation by the state Public Works Department (PWD).

It may be mentioned that the state PWD used to look after the maintenance of the police infrastructure and development of new projects. But there was a proposal of handing over the same to the corporation, which was under active consideration and the order in this regard has been passed recently.

It has been stated that the ongoing projects, which were started by the PWD, will be completed by them only. But the police infrastructure has to be handed over to the corporation in phases, to carry out the maintenance work.

Moreover, the projects for which the tenders have already been floated will also be carried out by the state PWD. The corporation will also ensure maintenance of the projects it will construct, besides continuing with the maintenance of the assets that will be taken over from the state PWD.

The transfer of assets of West Bengal Police will be carried out in phases by the chairman and managing director of the corporation, in consultation with the Director General of Police. The decision taken in this regard has to be informed to the concerned official of the state PWD.

Similarly, in case of Kolkata Police, the task has to be carried out in consultation with the Commissioner of Police.

It may be mentioned that the Kolkata Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation was amalgamated with the West Bengal Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation in April 2015.

The corporation carries out work to construct and maintain police station buildings, both in Kolkata and other parts of the state. Buildings including staff quarters for police, training colleges, forensic science laboratory buildings and police barracks are being maintained by the corporation.

According to a senior official, the step to handover the assets for maintenance has been taken, as it will ensure fast completion of the projects and will also improve the coordination between the corporation and the police, who will actually use the asset.