Narela prison complex to open by 2027 as Delhi jails run at double capacity
Delhi’s three prison complexes — Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli — are housing nearly twice their sanctioned capacity, with over 20,000 inmates against a combined capacity of 10,026. In response, the prison department is building a new 40-acre facility at Narela, scheduled to open by November 2027. The complex will hold 1,256 inmates, including a dedicated high-security block for 256 prisoners and two general prisons for 1,000 inmates.
According to 2025 prison records, 88% of inmates are undertrials, while only 12% are convicted. About 60% of the inmates are aged between 18 and 30. The most common offences include theft, attempt to murder, robbery and rape. Officials said that overcrowding in some jails is four to five times the capacity, and many undertrials remain in custody for years awaiting trial.
“Overcrowding is a major problem. Even people booked for minor offences are arrested and brought to jail, and judicial delays can leave undertrials behind bars for five to ten years,” a prison official said. The department also faces a manpower shortage, with 2,500 personnel against 3,200 sanctioned posts in 2024. Recruitment of 1,676 personnel, including warders, is expected.
The high-security prison at Narela has received ₹148.58 crore in funding, with 10% of construction completed. It will feature panopticon-style architecture, high perimeter walls and multi-layered security. The department is also testing targeted mobile-jamming systems to curb unauthorised phone use and reduce the need to move inmates outside prison premises.
In parallel, the prison administration is focusing on rehabilitation through work and vocational training. In April, the Tihar carpentry and fabrication unit supplied 10,000 dual desks to Delhi government schools and 26,000 to MCD schools. Inmates are also being trained to repair basic appliances such as air conditioners, fans and lights. However, prisoners are currently allowed to spend a maximum of ₹12,000 a month, including purchases from prison canteens.
The department is expanding semi-open and open prisons to gradually move eligible prisoners towards reintegration. According to 2025 records, 57 convicted prisoners have been upgraded to semi-open prisons, where they take on greater responsibility and assist at e-Mulaqat counters. Those with sustained good conduct for a year may be moved to open prisons, where they can leave during the day but must return in the evening.
However, prison reform experts question whether expanding capacity alone can solve overcrowding. V.K. Singh, founder and president of the Prison World Organisation and former Director General of Telangana Prisons, said, “We can’t meet the challenge of overcrowding by increasing the number of jails. This is a vicious cycle — no reforms, more prisoners, more jails, more jail staff, more corruption leading to more prisoners and overcrowding.”
Singh argued that semi-open and open prisons provide a controlled transition into society, allowing inmates to maintain family ties and gain independence before completing their sentences. He said overcrowding could be reduced within a given timeframe if authorities show the will to undertake reforms.
