Of the total 49 jails in the state, 17 will be closed soon due to insufficient prisoners, said Telangana Prisons Department Director General VK Singh. He also said that the closed jails will be utilised as special homes for beggars and orphans.

The department also has plans to set up a separate housing board by constructing 2BHK apartments.

The number of prisoners has been decreased gradually due to the reformation and rehabilitation programmes being carried out in the state by the department, said Singh. "A list of prisoners has been sent to the governor for their release from jail but it has come back, another list is yet to be prepared," he added.

The prisoners are provided with employment opportunities after their release, he said. Besides 20 petrol pumps in the state, the department has chalked out plans to open 20 new petrol pumps, including one operated exclusively by transgender persons, said VK Singh.