Rs 4.40 crore sought to renovate British-era Police Recruit School

Coimbatore: The century-old Police Recruit School (PRS) on Dr Balasundaram Road in the city, which is in a dilapidated condition , is all set to get a facelift soon.

The Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation has sent a proposal to the state government to renovate the facility the second oldest police school in the state at a cost of Rs 4.40 crore.

The school started functioning on March 4, 1912. Initially, the facility was known as the Central Police Training School, where training was given to the railway police, Malabar police and police forces in Canara in Karnataka, Nilgiris, Trichy, Ramanathapuram, Madurai and Triunelveli.

Now, the new recruits selected by the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board (TNUSRB) to the post of police constable are trained here.

Between 1921 and1926, PRS was used to house those arrested for participating in the Mappila Riots. During the period, training was stopped.

The facility was named Police Recruit School on April 1, 1950. When the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 was implemented, training to the Malabar and Canara police was stopped.

The school was headed by an officer of superintendent rank till a principal was appointed in 1984. It can accommodate 200 constables for the seven-month training.

As time had taken its toll on the building, the police department was planning to demolish it and construct a new building. But the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was against the plan and suggested renovation.

The proposal to renovate the building was sent to the state government in January. “We are waiting for the government approval. Once the proposal is approved, renovation work will start immediately,” said a senior police officer.

There are eight permanent police schools in Tamil Nadu Vellore, Coimbatore, Perurani in Thoothukudi, Madurai, Salem, Viluppuram, Thiruvallur and Trichy. The oldest, in Vellore, was started in 1896.