Arthur Road Jail Redevelopment Stalled Over Relocation of 3,000 Inmates
On June 28, 2026, plans to redevelop the historic Arthur Road Jail, officially known as Mumbai Central Prison, into a multi-storey complex were stalled because authorities cannot find temporary accommodation for over 3,000 inmates during construction. The redevelopment project, championed by Minister of State (Home) Yogesh Kadam to address severe overcrowding, is delayed indefinitely until a relocation solution is found.
The century-old prison currently holds 3,365 prisoners, which is more than three times its official sanctioned capacity of 999. Spread over six acres with 20 barracks and cells, including high-security egg-shaped "anda cells," the facility is surrounded by high-rises and desperately needs space to expand.
Minister of State (Home) Yogesh Kadam has held meetings over the past year to discuss the redevelopment proposal. Initial plans featured three eight-floor buildings to house prisoners, but the prison department flagged design issues. A reworked proposal is now exploring whether more buildings or floors can be added to accommodate the average population of over 3,000 prisoners.
While the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation is expected to carry out the redevelopment, officials have debated executing the project in phases. This would involve shifting only a portion of the inmates to other facilities while construction begins. However, the prison department has expressed security concerns, stating that large-scale construction cannot safely occur while many prisoners remain on-site.
Furthermore, moving prisoners to other regional facilities is currently impossible. Outskirts prisons, including those in Thane, Taloja, and Kalyan, are already facing severe overcrowding and cannot house the temporary population from Arthur Road Jail.
To resolve the logjam, authorities plan to build a new jail first. Last month, an 11-acre plot of land near the eastern suburb of Mankhurd was handed over to the Central prison administration for this purpose, following the removal of encroachments. Officials estimate that constructing the Mankhurd jail will take two to three years, after which the Arthur Road redevelopment can finally proceed.
An official noted that a multi-storey jail has never been constructed in Maharashtra. The project requires careful logistical planning to manage prisoner security, daily court hearings, hospital visits, bail releases, and daily meetings, alongside ensuring prisoners have access to open spaces.
