& Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda said at Police Commemoration Day here on Friday that the annual financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh a year provided for the welfare of police has been doubled.

He said: "Policemen are made to travel a lot as part of their job and hence, they face physical stress. The State government has proposed to construct rest houses in every district in the State."

During the initial phase, 15 districts will be covered, he added.

The construction of rest houses will be done in phases, first of which wil include selecting 15 districts for the same purpose. Gowda said that the Government will take steps to ensure that  modernisation of the police department.

Flats built in 17 days

The chief minister also inaugurated flats modeled on the Fire Officers' flats in Rajajinagar, developed in association with Pearls MiiHome, Australia and completed in just 17 days.

He said the use of such modern technology (to build these flats) had been adding to the image of Bangalore.

Gowda said the government intends to setup 50 more fire stations across the State. "...We plan to have about 12 housing facilities near these stations," he said.

The move will help the personnel to attend emergencies more efficiently due to their stay near the stations, he said.

There are 39,000 housing facilities for over one lakh police personnel in the State and the government wants to add another 40,000 units, the chief minister said.