Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on December 23, 2017, laid the foundation stone for India’s first Smart Police Station at Lakadganj Police Station premises, Nagpur. The Bhoomi Poojan was done in the presence of Nagpur Police Commissioner Dr K Venkatesham, Joint CP Shivaji Bodhke, DCP Rahul Mankikar, Nagpur Mayor Nanda Jichkar, Rajya Sabha MP Vikas Mahatme, Shyam Wardhane, MLAs Sudhakar Deshmukh, Vikas Kumbhare, Krishna Khopde and Dr Milind Mane and MLCs Anil Sole and Girish Vyas.

The entire project other than a 11-storeyed smart police station will include a residential cum commercial complex spread across 19,365 sq.meters. The entire cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 145 crore. The smart police station will also include facilities like swimming pool, activity centre, garden, gymnasium, clinic, a community hall with capacity of 500 people, etc. It will also have offices of Assistant Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Addressing the people present, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis informed that the state government is planning to construct one lakh houses for police  personnel, who have been living in deteriorated premises, some of which are more than 200 years old. He also informed that in the last three years, 3000 houses have already been built and 7000 are near completion and 47,000 units are in tendering process. Additionally, police personnel will be able to get loan for the ownership of houses post retirement at reduced interest rate and builders engaged in developing the premises will be provided with 2.5 FSI.

Emphasizing on the importance of technological advancement, Fadnavis praised Nagpur Police for bringing down the police deployment during the recently concluded winter session by 38% with the help of technology. He also said that with the start of smart police station, citizens will be able to lodge e-complaints through mobile app and will also be able to see the status of their complaints.