Tihar Jail finally being shifted from West Delhi? Know all about the relocation plan

Tihar Jail

The Delhi government is preparing to relocate Tihar Jail - India’s largest prison complex - from its current West Delhi location to the city’s outskirts, marking a major step in addressing long-standing issues of overcrowding, security lapses and deteriorating infrastructure within the prison system.

The move, which was officially outlined in Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s 2025–26 Budget speech last month, has gained fresh momentum following a formal request from Delhi Prisons to the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for the allotment of 400 acres of land for a new prison complex.

A letter dated April 24 and accessed by The Indian Express reveals that jail authorities have warned of severe consequences if the present crisis is not addressed. “Delhi Prisons is operating from three complexes of Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli, comprising 16 jails. These prisons have an overall capacity to lodge 10,026 inmates, whereas the present occupancy... is around 20,000,” the letter stated.

Officials say the overpopulation has led to serious strains on resources and infrastructure. “This creates security issues and causes severe strain on essential amenities like water and sewerage facilities, garbage disposal, etc., which results in serious health hazards and adversely impacts other correctional/reformation and rehabilitation programmes running inside the jail,” The Indian Express quoted the letter.

Despite a new high-security prison coming up at Narela with a sanctioned capacity of just 256 inmates, jail officials reportedly maintain that it will barely make a dent in the existing crisis. The request for 400 acres is intended to facilitate the construction of a modern, expansive jail complex that can accommodate between 5,000 and 8,000 inmates.

The Chief Minister has reported to have earmarked Rs 10 crore for survey and consultancy services to begin groundwork on the proposed relocation. Sources within the prison administration stressed that the current location in a densely populated residential area - near Tilak Nagar and Hari Nagar - is untenable.

The historical roots of Tihar stretch back to 1958 when it began as a small facility under Punjab’s administration. It wasn’t until 1966, following the reorganisation of state boundaries, that Tihar was handed over to the Delhi administration. Since then, the jail has grown in scale but has struggled to keep up with the increasing number of inmates.

Originally designed to hold just over 5,000 inmates, the Tihar complex today operates far beyond its intended capacity. At one point, occupancy exceeded 14,000 — nearly triple what it was built for — spurring concerns about not just safety and hygiene, but also the ability to reform and rehabilitate prisoners.

No timeline has been reported or confirmed for the move, but with funding allocated and land requested, officials suggest the process could begin as soon as DDA grants approval.