Chandigarh, Nov 29 (UNI) The construction work of the new Central Jail Goindwal Sahib is nearing completion and is expected to be handed over to the Jail department in mid-December and will become operational soon after, officials said on Monday.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who also holds the charge of the prison department, said on Monday that to rationalize the capacity of the jails in the state, this central jail with a capacity of 2,780 inmates has been constructed at Goindwal Sahib with the cost of Rs 185 crore. With the operationalizing of this jail, the number of Central Jails in the state will reach 10, while, the overall number of jails will reach 26.
He said that, presently, the prisoners of Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib districts have to be shifted to Ropar and Patiala Jails for which a new jail is being proposed in Mohali district and Rural and Panchayat Department has been asked to identify the land for the jail. One officer from each department has been deputed for coordination, he added.
Mr Randhawa further said that instructions have also been given to expedite the approval process for setting up of outlets of oil companies at land of Jail Department. Similarly, the Health Department was asked to deploy the required staff for setting up a hospital for the inmates in Faridkot Jail so that they won't have to travel for treatment.

Chief Secretary Anirudh Tewari directed the officers of Public Works, PSPCL, Land Conservation, Revenue Departments to complete the clearance work within the stipulated time and also asked the Public Works Department to hand-over the Central Jail to the department on time.
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