Completion of special Pocso court building in Pune court complex likely to take another 6-7 months: PMRDA

Pune: PMRDA officials said on Saturday that It would take another six to seven months to complete the construction of a dedicated Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) court building within the district and sessions Court complex.The building was initially expected to be completed by late last year."The pace of work has slowed down over the last few months. We now expect to complete the structure within the next half-year," a Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) official said.The four-storey structure is being built as part of a land-exchange deal linked to the Maan-Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar Metro Line 3 project. Under a 2019 concession agreement with Pune IT City Metro Rail Limited, the district court provided land for a Metro station and staircase access. In return, PMRDA committed to constructing a dedicated Pocso court building and beautifying the court premises.The Rs9.71-crore project is being executed by PMRDA through its concessionaire, Tata Projects Limited. While the project received all necessary technical and administrative sanctions, the timeline has shifted significantly. Though preliminary work was linked to a Nov 2023 deadline, active construction on the current phase reportedly began in January 2024.The delay comes at a critical time for the judiciary. Pune district currently grapples with over 6,000 pending Pocso and sexual assault cases. To address this backlog, the state govt recently established 27 fast-track special courts across Maharashtra, including four in Pune.Legal experts and lawyers said a dedicated building is essential for streamlining proceedings. "This infrastructure will allow these fast-track courts to operate in a more organized, specialised environment," an official noted.Designed with a total built-up area of 2,035.45 sq m, the building is tailored for child-friendly judicial proceedings, adhering to the National Mission for Safety of Women guidelines.The ground floor will house a video recording and conference room, counselling room and witness preparation room. The first and second floors will house four court halls, while the third and fourth floors will accommodate two additional Pocso court halls along with judges' chambers, court offices, waiting rooms, record rooms and toilets.The proposed Pocso court building will have a total built-up area of 2,035.45 sq mt and is being constructed with facilities aimed at child-friendly judicial proceedings. The ground floor will include a video recording and conference room, counselling room and witness preparation room. The first and second floors will house four court halls, while the third and fourth floors will accommodate two additional Pocso court halls along with judges' chambers, court offices, waiting rooms, record rooms and toilets