NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police, one of the largest metropolitan police forces in the world with a sanctioned strength of around 72,000, is likely to recruit more than 15,000 additional personnel in a major boost to its manpower.

The Union home ministry is working on a proposal to sanction the additional posts which would translate to at least a 20% increase in numbers and would be the biggest expansion of the police force in the capital.

“As part of its initiative to improve policing in the capital, the ministry proposes to recruit around 15,000-20,000 constables into the Delhi Police over a period of time. The Cabinet note is being drafted and will be put up for approval soon,” a senior home ministry official told TOI on Thursday.

According to data from the Bureau of Police Research and Development, Delhi Police had a sanctioned strength of 72,686 personnel (civil and district armed police) as on January 1, 2014. It far exceeds the national average in terms of population per policeman.

As against one constable for every 262 Delhiites, the national average stands at one policeman for 716 persons.

The Delhi Police also beats all other metropolitan police forces in India in terms of manpower. As compared to 72,686 sanctioned strength of civil police in Delhi, Mumbai has just 48,969 policemen and Kolkata 22,834 policemen. There are 11 police sub-districts in Delhi, with 181 police stations, 23 outposts and 15 state armed police stations.

“The proposal to expand the Delhi Police may be included in the next year’s general budget, which will earmark the required funds. The timeline for recruitment of the 15,000 constables is being decided,” said a home ministry functionary.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh has constantly pitched for strengthening the Delhi Police, laying particular stress on making the capital safer for women.

The sanctioned strength of constabulary in the Delhi Police, as per BPR&D data, was 18,989 head constables and 39,834 constables (including civil and district armed police) as on January 1, 2014. Each Delhi Police constable has an average 0.02 square kilometer of area under him.