# Uttar Pradesh prison capacity expansion

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uttar-pradesh-prison-capacity-expansion
> Updated: 2026-09-24T12:10:48.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The Uttar Pradesh government is expanding prison capacity and modernizing its correctional system to combat overcrowding. Since 2017, inmate capacity has grown from 58,400 to a projected 77,673 by 2026, resulting in a decrease in the overcrowding rate from 1.77 to 1.03.

To achieve this, seven new prisons have been operationalized in locations including Chitrakoot, Ambedkar Nagar, and Bareilly, adding space for 10,495 inmates. Further expansion is underway with six planned district prisons in areas such as Kanpur Nagar and Moradabad, intended to provide space for an additional 7,732 inmates. Additionally, construction of new district jails in Amethi and Mahoba is nearing completion.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-24: Uttar Pradesh expands prison capacity to reduce overcrowding

The Uttar Pradesh government is expanding prison capacity and building new facilities to reduce overcrowding, lowering the inmate overcrowding rate from 1.77 in 2017 to 1.03 by 2026.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uttar-pradesh-expands-prison-capacity-to-reduce-overcrowding

### 2026-08-31: UK Government allocates £110m to tackle prison overcrowding

The UK government is reallocating £110 million to expand prison capacity through new construction and cell conversions to combat overcrowding, alongside new sentencing and early release reforms.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/uk-government-allocates-110m-to-tackle-prison-overcrowding

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Cite as: Uttar Pradesh prison capacity expansion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uttar-pradesh-prison-capacity-expansion