Construction of the Rural District Jail is progressing at a snail’s pace in Kozhikode

The construction of Kerala’s first rural district jail at Puthuppanam, proposed as a solution to long-standing problems in the Vadakara undercarriage, is progressing slowly, leaving the existing facility to cope with overcrowding and infrastructure constraints.

The Puthuppanam project remained on paper for nearly a decade before gaining traction earlier this year. Although 60 cents of land has been transferred from the Irrigation Department to the Home Ministry and work on the compound wall has been approved, the new jail is still far from being operational.

The project was originally proposed as a replacement for the existing Vadakara Sub-Jail. It was later expanded to a rural county jail, which required design changes and additional administrative permission. These procedural delays contributed to the project being stalled for years.

The proposed facility was planned as a three-story prison with accommodation for more than 200 inmates. It was also expected to include facilities for prison staff and separate arrangements for prisoners in drug-related cases. The project is estimated to cost around ₹16 crore, as per details announced earlier this year.

Currently, the construction activity is focused on the perimeter wall. The wall and the main entrance form the first phase of the project, with boundary work sanctioned at around ₹2.3 million. The full construction of the prison is not proceeding as planned.

The delay is significant for Vadakara, where the existing undercarriage continues to operate under tight space and safety constraints. Cells designed to hold 14 inmates are said to house around 20 at times.

The presence of the NDPS court in Vadakara also contributes to the regular arrival of accused, putting additional pressure on the aging facility. The new jail is also expected to reduce pressure on the Kozhikode District Jail once it becomes operational.

The Puthuppanam facility was intended to provide a modern replacement for the existing jail and address its long-standing capacity and security issues. Meanwhile, prison authorities said the financial constraints that led to the temporary holdup of work could soon be resolved. They said the matter has already been brought to the notice of the state government.

Published – 17 Sep 2026 20:37 IST