Minister K.S. Basavanna inaugurated 36 new police housing units in Hosapete, Vijayanagara district, on Monday and pledged the swift establishment of dedicated women and cyber police stations in the region. Speaking at the police parade ground, he announced that the government will also proceed with the construction of an additional 60 housing units to further support police personnel and their families.
Basavanna, who serves as the District Caretaker Minister and Minister for Revenue, Fisheries, Ports, and Inland Water Transport, stated that the need for specialized police stations is urgent and will be addressed immediately. He revealed that construction for 24 more housing units has already commenced, while efforts are underway to convince the Home Minister to approve the construction of another 60 units. Additionally, he mentioned plans to build a welfare hall (Kalyana Mantapa) at the site to provide further convenience to the police force.
The minister also outlined a legislative initiative to mandate that urban development authorities reserve 10 to 15 percent of their land plots specifically for police housing across the state. MLA H.R. Gaviyappa added that approvals for the land required for the cyber and women police stations have been secured, with the foundation stone laying ceremony expected within one to two months. He noted that if the state government provides a matching grant of ₹10 crore to the ₹10 crore already allocated by the Karnataka Khadi Gramini Vyapara Samiti (KKRDI), an additional 60 houses could be constructed for the police.
District Collector Kavitha S. Mannikere highlighted the demand for a police welfare hall and a guest house, noting that finding suitable space in Hosapete is challenging; however, arrangements will be made in taluk headquarters if necessary. Superintendent of Police S. Jahnvi appealed to the government to take further steps to provide more housing units. The event was attended by District Panchayat CEO Garima Panwar, HUDA Chairman H.N.F. Mohammed Imran Niazi, Taluk President of the Guarantee Schemes Implementation Committee D. Venkataramana, and Executive Engineer Veerabhadraappa.
The three blocks of police housing, constructed by the Karnataka State Police Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation, were nearly completed a year ago but had not yet been inaugurated. Following inquiries from the media during the Kannada Rajyotsava celebrations on Sunday, the minister and MLA immediately arranged for the inauguration and key handover ceremony to take place on Monday.