UP Prison Infrastructure Expansion: Overcrowding Rate Drops As State Adds Jail Capacity

In Lucknow, September 24, the Yogi Government is actively working to modernize, secure, and humanize the state's prison system. The overcrowding problem in prisons has been addressed by accelerating the construction of new jails, leading to a decrease in the prison overcrowding rate. Currently, there are 77 prisons in the state, including seven Central Prisons, two Women's Central Prisons, 64 District Prisons, one Special Prison, two Sub-Jails, and one Juvenile Home.

The prison capacity expanded from 58,400 in 2017 to 77,673 by 2026 due to the infrastructure growth during the Yogi Government's tenure. The prison overcrowding rate has also declined from 1.77 in 2017 to 1.03 in 2026, directly attributed to the government's efforts to expand prison capacity. The government has opened seven new prisons since 2017, including Chitrakoot, Ambedkarnagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Etawah Central Prison, Prayagraj, Shravasti, and Bareilly's Old District Prison.

These additions have provided space for 10,495 inmates, easing the burden on prisons across various districts. Furthermore, the Yogi Government is constructing six more district jails, including Kanpur Nagar, Auraiya, Shahjahanpur, Gyanpur-Bhadohi, Moradabad, and Lalitpur, which will add 7,732 more inmates' capacity. The construction of new jails in Amethi, Mahoba, Hathras, Kushinagar, Jaunpur, and Hapur is also progressing rapidly, with a combined capacity of 6,156 inmates.

The Yogi Government aims to complete most of these projects by 2026. The overcrowding issue in prisons affects security, healthcare, sanitation, and rehabilitation, prompting the government to prioritize increasing prison capacity. By building new jails, upgrading existing prisons, constructing additional barracks, and providing modern security resources, the Yogi Government aims to ensure inmates receive adequate accommodation and solve overcrowding problems.