18 years on, construction of police station remains incomplete

The construction of the Nurmahal Police Station building, which began in 2006, remains incomplete even after 18 years, hindered by administrative hurdles and land transfer issues.

Advertisement

Initially, the police station operated from a private building, but with the aim of establishing a permanent structure, the town’s residents donated six kanals and 18 marlas of land and collectively contributed Rs 25 lakh towards the construction of the new facility. Despite these efforts, government authorities have failed to take the necessary steps to complete the project.

The land currently stands mutated in the name of the common owners, preventing its formal transfer to the police department. A resolution to transfer the land to the Punjab Police was unanimously passed by the Nurmahal Nagar Council on June 11, 2012 (Resolution No 40). However, this proposal was rejected by the Director of Local Government, further stalling progress.

Over the years, local residents have repeatedly appealed to successive Chief Ministers, including Parkash Singh Badal, Capt Amarinder Singh, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Charanjit Singh Channi, and the incumbent Bhagwant Singh Mann, to approve the resolution. Despite their continuous efforts, the land mutation remains unresolved, leaving the police station construction project in a state of limbo.

A visit to the site revealed several critical infrastructure elements still missing, including barracks for police personnel, boundary walls, flooring, and designated parking areas for impounded vehicles. The prolonged delay has raised concerns among residents regarding law enforcement efficiency and overall security in the area.

The local community continues to urge the authorities to expedite the land transfer process and ensure the long-overdue completion of the Nurmahal Police Station building.