Cabinet approves police station for Elamakkara

Kochi: The Home Ministry on Wednesday gave its nod for a new police station at Elamakkara in Kochi, ending the longstanding demand of local residents and legislators. The new police station will be set up near Elamakkara junction with a strength of 25 personnel including a sub-inspector.

According to Hibi Eden, the legislator who has been pushing the state government to sanction the 24th police station for Kochi city, the new station will help bring down the crime rate around the area and lessen the work burden of Kalamassery police station that had been looking after Elamakkara region despite being located six kilometers away.

The station is expected to take care of around 63,000 people spread across 12 square kilometers.

The main areas under the Elamakkara police station are Mamangalam, Pavakulam Temple, regions near Pachalam railway track and a portion of Edappally NH bypass. It has 30 religious centres including 17 temples, four churches and three mosques under its jurisdiction.

According to city police officials, Kalamassery station was had the largest jurisdiction which had also affected the smooth functioning of law and order as the Kalamassery sleuths found it difficult to reach remote locations like Elamakkara

immediately.

The heavy traffic at Edappally had also been affecting the movement of Kalamassery police officials to Elamakkara and other areas. Night patrolling was also poor around the Elamakkara area despite it being a major residential area.

Meanwhile the city police has begun to hunt for a proper location for the station with facilities for vehicle parking and easy movement.