Residents of dilapidated police quarters in Nashik asked to vacate

Nashik: Police personnel residing in dilapidated quarters near the city police commissionerate, on Gangapur Road, have been directed to vacate the premises immediately as authorities move ahead with plans to demolish the ageing structures declared unfit for habitation.The quarters include several chawls that are eight to nine decades old and buildings over 40 years old. A structural audit conducted about a year ago had flagged the premises as unsafe, prompting the decision.Senior officers said personnel vacating the quarters would be eligible for house rent allowance (HRA). They added that the cleared land would be used to set up temporary barracks for additional police force deployment during the Simhastha Kumbh Mela next year.DCP (HQ) Chandrakant Gavli said, “Once the quarters are demolished, the necessary works can be taken up at the said place. We have appealed to the personnel, who are mainly residing in the chawls, to vacate the quarters immediately.”At present, the police headquarters comprises old double-storey blocks along with tiled-roof chawls. About two years ago, taking note of the deteriorating condition, the police initiated a structural audit, which was later completed by the public works department. Based on its report submitted last year, demolition of the existing structures was recommended.Earlier, officials had planned to utilise the open space created after demolition for constructing new barracks.Despite the poor condition of the quarters, many personnel had continued to reside there due to the colony’s central location and proximity to workplaces. However, repair works were halted in view of the demolition decision.