Delhi’s new Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) in Sheikh Sarai has received approval at an estimated cost of ₹151.81 crore, with the facility expected to expand the capital’s capacity to examine scientific evidence in criminal investigations and reduce pressure on the existing laboratory in Rohini.
The approval was granted at a meeting of the Expenditure Finance Committee chaired by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, according to information released by the Chief Minister’s Office and reported by Live Hindustan. The Public Works Department will construct the facility, with a completion timeline of two years.
The laboratory will be built on approximately 6,300 square metres of land and will have a built-up area of around 18,300 square metres. Officials said it has been planned as an integrated forensic facility to handle specialised requirements related to the scientific examination of evidence.
The Sheikh Sarai RFSL is expected to primarily serve police personnel from South, South-East and Central Delhi districts. Its creation is also intended to reduce the workload at the existing Forensic Science Laboratory in Rohini, which has faced increased demand for forensic examinations.
The Delhi government has linked the expanded requirement for forensic services to the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the new criminal laws had increased the need for forensic investigation and that the facility would help Delhi Police and the Home Department respond to that demand.
Forensic examination can help investigators establish links between suspects, victims and crime scenes, while also providing scientific evidence for use during criminal trials. The government said that strengthening this infrastructure would support both the investigation process and the wider delivery of justice.
Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood said the new facility would speed up evidence examination and the preparation of forensic reports once it becomes operational. He said the laboratory would make evidence-based investigation more efficient and could contribute to the timely disposal of criminal cases in courts.
The project’s approval is an administrative and financial clearance; the information released so far does not specify a construction start date, the laboratory’s staffing strength, its specialised divisions or the procurement schedule for forensic equipment. The government has, however, set a two-year timeline for construction and said the facility will strengthen scientific support for criminal investigations in the capital.
