Tamil Nadu to build new district jail in Tiruvallur to ease prison overcrowding

Tamil Nadu's Law Minister has announced the construction of a new district jail complex in Tiruvallur district to alleviate severe congestion at Puzhal Central Prison, one of the state's most overcrowded facilities. The initiative forms part of the government's broader infrastructure expansion programme for the prison system. The new facility is expected to distribute the inmate population more effectively across the region and improve conditions within existing prisons. In a related development, the government will establish an integrated mental health centre at Vellore Central Prison at a cost of ₹3.63 crore. The mental health facility will address the growing need for psychiatric care and counselling services within the prison system, recognizing the mental health challenges faced by inmates. Prison authorities have identified mental health support as a critical gap in rehabilitation programmes. The dual initiative underscores the state government's commitment to modernizing prison infrastructure and enhancing inmate welfare across Tamil Nadu's correctional facilities.