Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced a plan to transfer Tihar Jail to the outskirts of the city and kept Rs 10 crore in a budget of 2025-26 for survey and counseling services related to the transfer of jail. Tihar Jail was established in 1958 and is one of the largest prison complexes in India, which includes nine jails spread over an area of more than 400 acres- one in Jail Rohini and six in Jail Mandoli.
Also read: Strict CM Rekha Gupta regarding Delhi’s cleanliness, instructions to remove posters and hoardings on metro pillars
Presenting the budget in the assembly, the Chief Minister of Delhi said that a new plan has been prepared for the development of a new jail complex by transferring the existing Tihar jail complex to some other place to reduce the congestion in the existing Tihar Jail premises for the welfare of the prisoners. Tilak Nagar and Hari Nagar areas of Tihar city located in West Delhi are close. Originally designed to keep around 10,025 prisoners, currently it has over 19,000 prisoners, causing congestion and safety challenges. The Delhi government has taken the initiative to develop new jail premises in Narela to reduce congestion.
The purpose of this jail was to keep the culprits of Delhi region, as the infrastructure of the jail was insufficient at that time. Despite being geographically located in Delhi, the jail worked under the administrative control of Punjab. In 1966, the administrative control of Tihar Jail was handed over to the Delhi administration from Punjab. In the last few years, the jail expanded as the number of inmates in Tihar Jail increased. As the crime rate increased, the number of prisoners in Tihar also increased.
Also read: Delhi Budget 2025: Government of Rekha Gupta announced for women, bus journey will continue free
Meanwhile, a source in Tihar Jail said, “We had also sought a place in Bapraula, but we could not find that due to encroachment. However, we have written to the Delhi government to provide 100 acres of land elsewhere.” The source said that the jail number 1 to 9 is designed to keep around 5,000 prisoners, but currently more than 12,000 prisoners live. The source said, “Jail numbers 10 to 16 are designed to keep about 3,700 prisoners, but currently more than 3,900 prisoners live. Jail number 4 in Tihar and 12 in Mandoli Jail are known as ‘Mulaija Jail’, which means first crime. We have a large number of prisoners in both these jails.”
