Mumbai Police is set to reactivate its mounted unit with 70 dedicated horse riders after the Maharashtra government approved Rs 1.25 crore in funding for the initiative, Loksatta reported on September 8. The riders will be appointed by surrendering an equivalent number of existing police posts from the force.
The mounted unit was reintroduced into the Mumbai Police in 2020, nearly 88 years after the earlier unit was discontinued. The pre-Independence-era mounted unit was shut down in 1932 as traffic increased in the city. Police Commissioner Deven Bharti is now pushing to use the unit for law-and-order duties in addition to ceremonial parades.
Under the approved arrangement, two police sub-inspector posts, four assistant sub-inspector posts, 16 head constable posts and 48 constable posts will be returned to the government. In their place, the police force has received permission to appoint 70 horse riders. The arrangement is intended to address the specialised riding skills required for mounted policing.
The unit was initially planned at the Marol police colony, where a stable, a swimming pool for horses and a training centre were to be developed across 2.5 acres. The modern stable was completed in 2023, and veterinary facilities have also been made available, according to the report. However, the unit could not become fully operational because trained horse riders were not available.
The mounted unit currently has 22 horses. More horses are expected to be added over the next year. At the time of its initial operation, the unit was planned with 30 horses and a staffing structure consisting of one police sub-inspector, one assistant sub-inspector, four head constables and 32 constables.
The police have already used the horses for parades on Republic Day and Maharashtra Day. The latest move is aimed at expanding their operational role, particularly in crowded areas where police vehicles may not be able to move easily. A senior police officer cited in the report said mounted patrols could provide officers with a higher vantage point and allow them to observe larger areas than patrols conducted on motorcycles.
Mumbai has several crowded public areas where vehicle-based policing can face access limitations. The police are therefore considering mounted patrols for crowd management and other law-and-order duties. The government approval covers both the funding and the appointment of the 70 riders required to make the unit operational.
