After decades spent functioning from rented premises, the Muthapudupet police personnel are all set to have a permanent address. Thanks to an agreement between the State government and the Ministry of Defence, they will soon get their own building. As per the agreement, the Ministry of Defence has agreed to transfer 3,900 sq.ft of defence land to the State government for construction of a police station at a cost of ₹19.60 lakh.
In return, the Ministry wants the State government to give an equal portion of land, with same land value, anywhere in the State. A communication about this has been sent to the State government. This development brings a two-year-long ordeal for the Muthapudupet police personnel to an end.
Following severe damage inflicted by cyclone Vardah on the tiled-roof rented building they were functioning from, the Muthapudupet police shifted to another rented building. “The existing police station does not have a rest room for the police personnel. Visitors have to wait in the open as the station does not have adequate space for a waiting hall,” says a police officer. The cramped police station has only cabins for inspectors and a small room for office work. Currently, all routine duties are carried out in the small room.
The station does not have lock-up rooms to detain suspects nor an armoury for deposit of weapons. Police constables are forced to change their uniforms in the verandah and have only wooden benches to rest on. On an average, 10 cases, mostly petty crimes, are registered in a month at the station, which covers areas including Muthapudupet, Palavedu, Melapedu and Mittanamalli. Police personnel say once the State government identified land to give the Ministry of Defence in return, the necessary funds will be allotted for the construction of a new building for the Muthapudupet police, by Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation (TNPHC).