100 shelters for cops on patrol duty in Mumbai

Police personnel patrolling the streets of Mumbai in the scorching sun or heavy rains can now get take shelter in the temporary, portable, semi-modular structures put up across the city.

The 100 white shelters, sponsored by Reliance Industries and Reliance Foundation, are put up at key check points to provide a safe and relatively comfortable work conditions for Mumbai Police. The project, which kicked off on May 7, was completed on June 10. The shelters not only look attractive, but are also equipped with facilities such as changing rooms, water dispensers and refrigerators.

The shelters also include signages on 15-feet high pylons, fully lit up to enable good visibility along bright-coloured barricading, to make it is easy for the police personnel to funnel traffic. According to police officers, the signages will alert motorists about the police presence ahead on the road.

“The project was approved to make visible policing more effective,” said a police officer. During the first and second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the personnel on patrol duty faced problems as they did not have facilities to change or relieve themselves. Therefore, such shelters were proposed to be set up.

The police officers said that out of the 100 points, the one at Marine Drive promenade has received three shelters, while at Malabar Hill, there are four shelters.

“The two areas are vast to man, owing to which they have received the maximum shelters, as more policemen are deployed in those areas for bandobast,” added the officer.

Officers said that more such shelters are expected in the future.