High security jail to come up on Bhubaneswar outskirts

In view of the overcrowding at Jharpada jail in Bhubaneswar, the Odisha government is planning to set up a high-security prison in the suburbs of the State Capital at Jamujhari. Jharpada jail has a capacity of 990, but it houses more than 1150 prisoners. It does not have any scope for expansion.

As per the Department of Prisons, research for the same has been done for the best possible design, technology and infrastructure. Study tours were undertaken to other prisons in the country for practical experience and discussions. The new jail will have prisoner segregation for under trials, convicts, gangsters and hardened criminals, young and first-time offenders, females, transgenders, geriatrics and psychiatric prisoners.

As far as security is concerned, it will reportedly have turnstile automation, pole scan, IP-based surveillance & biometrics system, blocking system, non-linear junction detector, high-security wards, body-worn cameras and prisoner calling system. Under reforms and rehabilitation, the new jail will have provisions for education & vocational training, personality development, physical exercise/ sports/ gym, yoga & meditation, jail community radio, behavioural training & counselling, self-expression & creativity and mental healthcare workers.