Yogi Government Takes Steps to Alleviate Prison Overcrowding in Uttar Pradesh
The Yogi government is expanding prison capacity in Uttar Pradesh to tackle overcrowding, with new facilities and improvements underway.
Lucknow, September 24 (Daily Kiran) : The Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh is actively working to modernize and enhance the state’s prison system. As the number of inmates has risen, overcrowding has become a pressing issue. To address this, the government has accelerated the construction of new prisons, resulting in a notable decrease in overcrowding rates.
Currently, Uttar Pradesh operates 77 prisons, including 7 central jails, 2 women’s central jails, 64 district jails, 1 special jail, 2 sub-jails, and 1 juvenile home. Over the past nine and a half years, the expansion of prison infrastructure has significantly increased the state’s prison capacity. In 2017, the total inmate capacity across 70 jails was 58,400. By 2026, this capacity has risen to 77,673, leading to a substantial reduction in overcrowding.
The overcrowding ratio, which stood at 1.77 in 2017, has dropped to 1.03 in 2026. This improvement is a direct result of the Yogi government’s efforts to expand existing facilities and construct new jails. Since 2017, seven new jails have been commissioned, including those in Chitrakoot, Ambedkarnagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Etawah, Prayagraj, Shravasti, and the old district jail in Bareilly. These additions have created space for an additional 10,495 inmates, easing the burden on various district jails.
The government is also progressing with plans to build six new district jails in Kanpur Nagar (capacity 2030), Auraiya (1056), Shahjahanpur (1520), Gyanpur-Bhadohi (574), Moradabad (2000), and Lalitpur (552). These new facilities will provide an additional capacity for 7,732 inmates. Proposals for administrative and financial approvals for these projects have been submitted to the government.
Construction is also advancing swiftly on new jail projects in Amethi and Mahoba, which are nearing completion. The Amethi jail is over 98% complete, while the Mahoba jail is more than 93% finished. Additionally, new jails are under construction in Hathras, Kushinagar, Jaunpur, and Hapur, collectively expected to accommodate 6,156 inmates. The Yogi government aims to complete most of these projects by 2026.
Alongside expanding jail infrastructure, the government is preparing to establish new prisons in districts where land acquisition and registration processes are underway. Proposed jails in Sambhal, Shamli, Ballia, Saharanpur, Amroha, and Chandauli are in various stages of land acquisition and registration. Significant funding has already been approved for several of these projects.
Overcrowding in prisons poses serious challenges related to safety, health, hygiene, and rehabilitation activities. Recognizing this, the Yogi government has prioritized increasing prison capacity. The construction of new jails will not only provide better living conditions for inmates but will also facilitate improved security measures and rehabilitative programs. The government’s goal is to ensure that every inmate has access to adequate living conditions while minimizing the issues caused by overcrowding through the construction of new facilities, upgrading existing prisons, and enhancing security resources.
