Maharashtra Police framework 2023: Distance between police stations in urban areas to be 4 km, 10 km in rural

Speaking in the council, Fadnavis had said, “Policing in the state was on the basis of the norms set in 1960 as per the then population and even though there had been several changes in the state, the framework had not been amended. A new framework has been formulated after 60 years this year which would be followed going ahead.”

Among the newer norms that will soon be implemented includes a maximum limit of four kilometres between two police stations in urban areas while a limit of 10 km between two police stations in rural areas. An officer said that while in 1960 norms had been set up for the total vacancies in the force, there was no formal framework for issues like setting up of new police stations.

“In 2011, a panel had been set up by the DGP then where the rough draft of the new framework was formulated. Recently, when the Home Minister was reviewing the functioning of the force, we informed him about the new framework. He was positive about the changes to be made with the changing times and asked us to send the report. It was sent before the monsoon session,” an officer said.

The officer added that having a framework also makes it convenient for the home department to justify the setting up of newer police stations and thereby makes the process of getting funds for the same easier from the other departments.

Apart from the distance between police stations, the new norms state that considering the extent of cyber and financial crimes, police stations will be established in the areas of banks, financial institutions, commercial places, educational institutions, hostels, religious places, courts, major dams, power plants and nuclear power plants.

The new framework further mentions that the number of calls received by the police helpline 112 should be referred to while deciding locations of new police stations. “The calls are to be analysed and more police stations should be set up in locations from where more calls are received,” the official said.

Apart from locations of police stations, the 2023 framework further restricts the number of summons that a constable has to serve to four from the current 14 – 15 summons to improve the quality of work.

The official said that in addition to the framework for the main units of the force, new frameworks have also been set up for other units like Highway Police, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Anti-Naxal Operations and Force One. A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has also been formulated for cyber crime in the state that will soon be put in place, the official said.