With Uttarakhand’s jails housing over 5,200 prisoners against a capacity of just 3,741, the state is scrambling to tackle severe overcrowding.

Acting on High Court directions, the Home Department has initiated the construction and expansion of jails across six districts to create space for nearly 1,000 additional inmates, reported Jagran News.

Currently, the state has nine district jails and two sub-jails, all of which are running far beyond capacity — at times even touching 7,000 prisoners. This includes both convicted and undertrial inmates, leading to unsafe and inhumane conditions inside the facilities.

To ease the burden, new prison infrastructure is being developed at a fast pace. The Pithoragarh district jail, with capacity for 80 inmates, is ready and will be operational soon.

In Champawat, a new facility for 208 inmates is planned, while land for a jail in Uttarkashi has been finalized. In Haridwar, high-security barracks for 50 inmates are under construction. Dehradun is getting a new section for 160 prisoners, and Udham Singh Nagar will see a major facility for 2,000 inmates, with 480 approved in the first phase.

Home Secretary Shailesh Bagauli confirmed that the expansion projects are in full swing and will significantly reduce overcrowding.

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