Govt to shift Shillong district jail to new Shillong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMay 18, 2023

Deputy Chief Minister in-charge Urban Affairs and Home (Jail) Sniawbhalang Dhar on Thursday announced the shifting of the overcrowded Shillong District Jail to the New Shillong Township.

“We have decided to shift the Shillong district jail from Jail road to New Shillong,” Dhar told reporters after conducting an inspection of the jail here.

He said the decision has been finalized after the Urban Affairs department agreed to provide 25 acres of land for the construction of the new district jail at the New Shillong Township.

“Apart from providing land, the urban affairs department has also agreed to construct the new district jail,” he added.

When asked, the deputy chief minister said in exchange, the land where the district jail is presently located will be handed over to the urban affairs department.

He informed that the capacity of the new district jail will be 1,000 unlike the old jail with only 170 capacity.

“Once completed, we will be able to segregate between the convicts and the under trial prisoners,” Dhar said adding that the new jail will have better facilities.

At present, the Shillong District Jail is housing over 464 inmates against its capacity of 175 inmates.