The Maharashtra government has sanctioned ₹1.27 crore for the Mounted Police Unit of the Brihanmumbai Police, paving the way for the expansion and operational strengthening of the unit.
According to a Home Department Government Resolution (GR) dated August 19, 2026, an amount of ₹1,27,10,581 has been approved for the unit functioning under the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai.
The sanctioned amount will be used for a range of expenses required to operate and strengthen the mounted police force. These include:
The expenditure will be met from the existing City Police Establishment budget for the financial year 2026-27. The government has also authorised designated officers under the mumbai Police Commissioner to act as Drawing and Disbursing Officers for the approved funds.
The Maharashtra government had given in-principle approval in February 2019 to establish a Mounted Police Unit with 30 horses for the Mumbai Police.
Personnel were subsequently sanctioned for the unit from the existing police establishment. The proposed strength was intended to provide the manpower needed to handle mounted patrols and related duties.
A permanent stable facility has also been established at Marol in Andheri, providing a dedicated base for the unit.
Mounted police units can provide an advantage in areas where conventional patrol vehicles may face difficulties, particularly crowded public spaces, traffic-control zones and Mumbai's seafront areas, including the city's Chaupattis.
The Mumbai Police's mounted unit has a longer history. It was disbanded in the early 1930s before being revived in 2011, nearly eight decades later.
The unit has also recently received 13 new horses, taking its current strength to 16, according to the information available. The latest government funding is expected to support further procurement and meet the recurring requirements associated with maintaining the horses and running the unit.
The latest financial approval represents an important administrative step towards making the Mumbai Police Mounted Unit more functional and adequately equipped.
With dedicated funding for horses, riding equipment, veterinary care, trainers and other operational needs, the Maharashtra government's decision is expected to strengthen mounted patrolling as part of Mumbai Police's broader policing and crowd-management arrangements.
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