Pune: The Pune Metro Rail Project has formally requested land from the Bharti Vidyapeeth Police Station for the construction of the Balajinagar Metro stop. The proposal, which involves utilizing a significant portion of the police station’s premises, has sparked concerns over the functioning of law enforcement in the area.

The Pune Metro authorities have sought 14.07 square meters of land on a permanent basis, 76.707 square meters on a temporary basis, and 39.541 square meters for underground construction to facilitate passenger movement at the Balajinagar Metro station.

The extension of the Swargate-Katraj underground metro corridor has already received approval from the central and state governments, making this land acquisition critical for the project’s expansion.

However, the Bharti Vidyapeeth Police Station has raised objections, stating that granting the requested land would result in the loss of 60% of its premises, potentially crippling law enforcement operations in the region.

Police Demand Alternative Space

In response to the Metro's request, the police have demanded that they be provided with a fully equipped 5,000-square-foot building before any handover takes place. Alternatively, they have urged that the land acquisition be put on hold until a suitable replacement location is arranged.

A key challenge is that the police station building currently stands on land owned by Bharti Vidyapeeth Educational Institution, leased at a symbolic annual rent of ₹1. Since the police do not hold ownership rights, they argue that they lack the authority to transfer the land to the Metro authorities.

The Bharti Vidyapeeth Police Station oversees a vast jurisdiction of 34 square kilometers, serving a population of 5.5 lakh (550,000) residents. The station handles approximately 900 criminal cases annually and receives over 3,000 complaints on average.

Officials have also pointed out that the Ambegaon Police Station, which was recently established after the division of Bharti Vidyapeeth Police Station, is still operating from a temporary police outpost. Any further disruption in policing infrastructure, they argue, could exacerbate law-and-order issues in the region.