Authorities say the centre can hold 80 people and is meant for individuals identified for deportation amid questions on terminology, conditions, and rising numbers of detentions
MUMBAI — A new detention centre has been set up in Mumbai’s Bhoiwada area to hold individuals identified for deportation, marking the first such facility in the city amid an ongoing national debate on immigration enforcement.
Officials say the centre has been created to temporarily house undocumented migrants, mainly those alleged to be from Bangladesh, before they are sent back through the India–Bangladesh border process. The facility has now become operational.
The centre, located in Bhoiwada, can accommodate up to 80 people at a time. It currently houses around 40 individuals awaiting deportation, according to official sources.
Authorities have named it an “establishment centre” and placed it under the Social Welfare Department, while internal security is handled by the Maharashtra State Security Force. Police are deployed outside the premises.
The building is a two-storey structure with 40 rooms, each fitted with bunk beds. It has been divided into separate sections for men and women. Officials say the centre has space for 60 men and 20 women.
A senior official said, “The facility was designed to manage detainees in a structured manner before deportation, ensuring basic arrangements during their stay.”
Basic facilities such as food, bedding and sanitation are being provided to those held in the centre. However, officials acknowledged that women’s accommodation has become limited due to higher-than-expected numbers, leading to some being temporarily kept in police stations.
According to official data, more than 1,060 people were deported in 2025. By March this year, around 400 individuals had already been detained, including 220 by Mumbai Police and 180 by other units.
Authorities say many of those detained were previously held in police stations due to the absence of a dedicated facility. They argue that jails could not be used as the individuals were not charged with criminal offences.
Plans for a second detention centre in Navi Mumbai are also underway. A permanent facility at Balegaon SRPF ground was approved earlier, with a capacity of 213 people, but construction is yet to be completed despite tender processes being finalised.
The state government had approved both the Bhoiwada temporary centre and the Navi Mumbai permanent facility in July 2024 to manage cases involving alleged undocumented migration.
The development has triggered discussion among political observers and rights groups over migration policy, terminology used in public discourse, and detention procedures.
Officials maintain that the centres are part of administrative arrangements for handling deportation cases in an orderly manner.
