Recently, the Prisons Department informed the government that they will not be able to spare any land at Coimbatore Central Prison premises for any activity. This is because of security concerns. The corporation had requested nine acres for relocating the mofussil bus stand. When the prison was established in 1872 it had 201 acres. Over the years, the area has shrunk to 120 acres. Eighty one acres were handed over to the government for construction of various buildings. Prison officials said that 43 acres of the prison ground was earmarked for the establishment of ‘Semmozhi Poonga’ and a GO for the same was also passed shortly before the assembly elections in 2011. But not much work was carried out on that space.
Deputy Inspector General of Police (Prisons) in-charge of Coimbatore Range V.H. Mohammed Haneefa told The Hindu that there should be any buildings for at least half a kilometre around the prison as there is the possibility of persons launching attacks on the high security premises from there.
Request for space to establish the bus stand was sent by Coimbatore Corporation to the government, from where it was forwarded to Prisons Department for consideration.
