Maha Mantralaya to get new compound wall for better security

The Maharashtra government's secretariat, popularly called Mantralaya, will get a new 10-foot high compound wall at a cost of Rs 3 as part of enhanced security measures for the complex, an official said Monday.

The Public Works Department will begin work on the 677 metre long wall Tuesday, the official added.

"The length of the compound wall is 677 metres. It will have 8-foot high grills on a concrete base that will be two feet high. The width of this concrete block will be about two-and-half feet," the official informed.

"It was the state Home departments call to redesign the compound wall in order to increase visibility across it so as to enhance security. Lights would be set up at every 20 metres of the wall as well as CCTV cameras," he added.

He said that the Mantralaya wall would be uniform on the lines of the ones at the Bombay High Court building and Fort Campus of Mumbai University.

The official said that changes are also being planned for entry and exit of vehicles in the sprawling complex.

"The plan being mulled will have vehicles entering from the two main gates and the garden gate while they will exit from the Aarasa gate near Oval Maidan," he said.

Mantralaya is surrounded by private properties and residents here have been informed of the changes being made to the compound wall, he said.

The official said that two new police posts and three bunkers would come up at Mantralaya.