A new Forensic Lab for Pune

As a part of a modernization plan and strengthening the investigation agencies, the Centre will soon set up a hi-tech Central Forensic Science Laboratory in Pune.
While a budgetary provision of Rs.75 crore has been made for the project, land too has been acquired for the new laboratory. Along with Pune, the Centre will also set up hi-tech forensic science laboratories in Bhopal and Guwahati. “We expect the state-of-the-art laboratory to start functioning within a year-and-a-half. Besides budgetary provision, personnel too have been appointed for it,” a senior bureaucrat said.
The bureaucrat said the Centre has also drafted an ambitious plan for upgradation and modernization of existing laboratories in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chandigarh and Hyderabad. The new laboratories being set up in Pune, Bhopal and Guwahati will meet the requirements of Central agencies, such as the CBI, NIA and Narcotic Control Bureau.
Currently, in case of emergency, samples are referred to the regional forensic science laboratories, directly under the control of the state government. “In Maharashtra, even the forensic science laboratories under the state government are well-equipped and the manpower too is highly trained and competent. In key cases, the results submitted by these laboratories, are indeed commendable,” he said.
In Maharashtra, there are six forensic science laboratories located in Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Amravati, Aurangabad and Nagpur. “The state government has proposed to further modernize these laboratories. All types of samples are handled in these laboratories,” he said.