The new center is set to provide training for 350 police squad dogs. It includes 74 dogs from the bomb detection unit and 102 from the investigating units. In contrast, the current center can only accommodate the training of 20 dogs along with their handlers.
The state cabinet has approved the relocation of the state police force’s dog training center from Pune to Baramati, which is the assembly constituency of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. This new facility will be established in Gojubabi village, covering an area of 7 hectares, and it will be developed at an estimated cost of ₹56.76 crore.
The center will be under the leadership of an additional superintendent of police and will house dog trainers, veterinary doctors, and officers. An official from the home department noted that the original plan, initially proposed in April 2022, included the construction of 140 canals. However, this has been revised to 65 canals, reducing construction expenses from ₹84.28 crore to ₹55.54 crore.
The current training center was established in 1964 and constructed in 6 gunthas. Since the space is limited, more is needed to meet the demands of the police force. The existing structures also need repair, forcing the police to send their dogs to private training centers. The new center aims to address these limitations and provide a modern and adequate training facility for the police squad dogs.