The ‘Aadharwadi’ jail in Kalyan has completely been full with prisoners. There are three times more prisoners in jail than the capacity. Therefore the jail administration is under stress as where to keep the newly entered prisoners. So the new prisoners are being sent to Taloja Jail in Navi Mumbai. For the last several months, the Aadharwadi’ jail authorities have been forced to work day-night as the Jail repair and extension proposal is stuck with government authorities. There are 1400 prisoners while the capacity of the jail is only 540.
In the year 1976, the ‘Aadharwadi’ jail was built on 9 hectares of land in Kalyan. The accused in Kalyan, Dombivli, Ulhasnagar, Ambernath, Vitthalwadi, Badlapur, Vangani, Karjat, Titwala, Shahapur are sent to Aadharwadi jail after they are sentence by the court. Jail’s capacity is of 540 prisoners including 35 female prisoners. However, there are around 1400 prisoners in Jail with 114 women and 23 children of these women prisoners are also there. This situation leads to fights between the prisoners as they do not even get the place to sleep. The jail administration has to take this entire burden. Few days ago, the jail authorities refused to allow more accused in the jail. So these accused were sent to Taloja Central Jail in Navi Mumbai.
There are four major jails Taloja, Thane Central Jail, Arthur Road Jail and ‘Aadharwadi’. However, as the number of crime is increasing in the city, the number of prisoners being punished daily. As there is no enough space for these prisoners, many of them are forcefully kept in the same barrack.
Due to rising crime in Kalyan and surrounding areas, the numbers of prisoners are increasing day by day. This number is also increasing as in some cases the prisoners do not get bail and some cases are pending in court. Aadharwadi was the only jail in Thane district, where female prisoners were kept. Now women prisoners are kept in Thane jail. For improving the prison capacity, the jail authorities have been following up with government officials for many years however; they did not get any result yet.
Prisoner capacity is 540 and currently there are 1400 prisoners. There are more prisoners than the capacity. Expanding the prison in the free space near is under consideration, the decision is likely to be taken soon. – Bharat Bhosale, Magistrate
