NEW DELHI: Delhi Home Minister Satyendra Jain on Tuesday inaugurated delayed Mandoli Prison. The Prison Complex has separate jail for women and high security prisoners. India's first prison designed to lodge high-risk prisoners, with facilities being provided as ultra-modern with the multi-level prison building having 20-25 cells on each floor, said jail officials. Mandoli jail was planned in Sheila-led government and it became operational in October 2016, almost eight years after construction began in 2007 hopefully to decongesting of overcrowding and resulting frequently violence in Tihar Jail. The new complex has a capacity to hold 3,778 prisoners at a time and estimated cost was Rs 375.5 crore.
The first batch of 50 inmates were shifted from Tihar jail to Mandoli jail on October 20. So far around 1,500 prisoners have been shifted to the jail from the Tihar. Primarily believed to be a result of overcrowding, the two old prisons witnessed several incidents of violence over the years. Interestingly, no serious violence has been reported since relocation was initiated.
The high-security cells are being monitored by CCTV cameras and having heavy doors that is opened by using automatic systems that are operated from a control centre. The cells are being cooled with air circulation system inside barracks, wards and offices of each jail. The rooftop solar plant in Mandoli jail was inaugurated on Tuesday by Home Minister Satyendra Jain.
This is one of the largest solar power installations in a jail across India. This will result in a significant reduction in dependency on the main power grid. Additionally, through the "Pay-as-you-go" or OPEX model, CleanMax Solar will provide solar power to Mandoli jail with tariff rates that are approximately 50 percent cheaper than existing grid electricity tariff.
The prison complex will be secured with laser fences along the periphery wall, bolstered by bolstered by a camera based prisons tracking system. Jail officials said that security along periphery would be additionally tightened to prevent incidents of inmates receiving materials such as tobacco and prohibited objects from outsiders.