Lucknow: UP govt has intensified efforts to modernise the prison system and reduce overcrowding by expanding existing facilities and constructing new jails. At present, Uttar Pradesh has 77 operational prisons, including seven central prisons, two women’s central prisons, 64 district prisons, one special prison, two sub-jails and one juvenile home. According to official figures, the total inmate capacity in the state has risen from 58,400 in 2017, when 70 prisons were operational, to 77,673 in 2026.The expansion has helped reduce prison overcrowding. While the overcrowding rate stood at 1.77 in 2017, it has declined to 1.03 in 2026, indicating that prison occupancy has come much closer to sanctioned capacity.Since 2017, govt has opened seven new prisons in Chitrakoot, Ambedkar Nagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Prayagraj and Shravasti, besides Etawah Central Prison and Old District Prison in Bareilly. Together, these facilities have added accommodation for 10,500 inmates, easing pressure on prisons in several districts.Govt is now planning six additional district jails that will create capacity for another 7,732 inmates. Proposed facilities include Kanpur Nagar with a capacity of 2,030 inmates, Moradabad (2,000), Shahjahanpur (1,520), Auraiya (1,056), Gyanpur-Bhadohi (574) and Lalitpur (552). Proposals seeking administrative and financial approvals for these projects have already been submitted.Construction work is also progressing on several jail projects across the state. Officials said district jails in Amethi and Mahoba are nearing completion, with over 98% and 93% of work completed, respectively. Construction is also underway in Hathras, Kushinagar, Jaunpur and Hapur. These six under-construction jails will collectively accommodate 6,156 inmates, and govt aims to complete most of them by 2026.Simultaneously, the state has accelerated land acquisition and registration processes for proposed prison projects in Sambhal, Shamli, Ballia, Saharanpur, Amroha and Chandauli. Funds worth several crores of rupees have already been sanctioned for some of these projects.Officials said overcrowding adversely affects prison security, healthcare, sanitation and rehabilitation programmes. Govt’s strategy focuses on new jail construction, expansion of existing prisons, creation of additional barracks and deployment of modern security infrastructure to ensure inmates receive accommodation as per prescribed standards while improving prison management and reformative services.Officials said overcrowding adversely affects prison security, healthcare, sanitation and rehabilitation programmes. The government’s strategy focuses on new jail construction, expansion of existing prisons, creation of additional barracks and deployment of modern security infrastructure to ensure inmates receive accommodation as per prescribed standards while improving prison management and reformative services.
