📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ms Sarah Welch
Crime
Maharashtra to relocate historic jail housed in Portuguese-era fort
✍️ The Indian Express
🗓 09 Nov 2026, 09:04 AM
👁 11
The Maharashtra government is planning to move a centuries‑old prison that operates inside a Portuguese‑era fort, citing heritage preservation and facility concerns.
The state government of Maharashtra has announced its intention to shift a historic prison that is currently situated within the walls of an old Portuguese fort. Officials say the move is aimed at safeguarding the heritage structure, which has endured wear and tear due to its dual function as a correctional facility.
Authorities also point to the challenges of maintaining modern prison standards in a building that was not designed for contemporary security and inmate welfare requirements. Relocating the inmates to a purpose‑built complex is expected to improve living conditions while allowing the fort to be restored and potentially opened to the public as a cultural site.
The proposal is under review by the state’s heritage and prison departments, and a timeline for the transfer has yet to be finalised. If approved, the shift could set a precedent for handling other heritage‑linked institutions across the country.
Authorities also point to the challenges of maintaining modern prison standards in a building that was not designed for contemporary security and inmate welfare requirements. Relocating the inmates to a purpose‑built complex is expected to improve living conditions while allowing the fort to be restored and potentially opened to the public as a cultural site.
The proposal is under review by the state’s heritage and prison departments, and a timeline for the transfer has yet to be finalised. If approved, the shift could set a precedent for handling other heritage‑linked institutions across the country.