Navi Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday launched the Navi Mumbai Police’s ‘Campus Connect – Drug-Free Awareness Campaign’ aimed at protecting students from the growing threat of narcotics. The launch was held at the D.Y. Patil University’s Centre of Excellence in Nerul, where Fadnavis also inaugurated the De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre online. An Integrated Command and Control Centre and the Navi Mumbai Airport Police Station were also inaugurated as part of the programme.
De-Addiction Centre, Control Room And Airport Police Station Inaugurated
The campaign will focus on taking anti-drug awareness directly into schools and colleges. Nearly 250 colleges in Navi Mumbai have already responded to the initiative. An Anti-Narcotics Committee will be established in every school and college, comprising representatives of the institution and the police, to monitor drug-related activities in and around campuses and conduct regular awareness programmes.
“Drug prevention has to begin before a youngster gets trapped in addiction. Through Campus Connect, we want to create a strong network of students, educational institutions, parents and police so that drug abuse is detected early and young people are guided towards a healthy and productive life,” said Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Milind Bharambhe.
Anti-Narcotics Committees To Monitor Drug Activities On Campuses
The programme began with the inauguration and inspection of the Integrated Command and Control Centre at the Police Commissioner’s Office. The Navi Mumbai Airport Police Station was inaugurated online from the same location. The main programme was subsequently held at the Centre of Excellence.
Ahead of the main event, students presented street plays, dance performances and other cultural programmes conveying messages against drug abuse. The programme also included the felicitation of winners of reel and poster-making competitions and the distribution of letters from the Chief Minister to three principals. Following speeches by Fadnavis and Forest Minister Ganesh Naik, students took a pledge to stay away from drugs.
Integrated Command Centre Inaugurated Before Main Programme
The De-addiction and Rehabilitation Centre, established jointly by the Navi Mumbai Police and Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation, will provide medical treatment, psychiatric assistance and counselling. A 10-bed residential facility will also be available for those requiring intensive treatment. The centre will focus not only on medical treatment but also on psychological support and rehabilitation to help recovering addicts return to mainstream society.
The newly inaugurated Integrated Command and Control Centre will bring together CCTV feeds from the Navi Mumbai and Panvel municipal corporation areas and the Taloja MIDC region. Police will be able to monitor important locations from a single centre, strengthening surveillance and helping in faster detection and investigation of crimes. The system currently integrates feeds from 4,011 CCTV cameras, with provision to add more cameras in the future.
Drug-Free Navi Mumbai Campaign Running Since January 2025
The Navi Mumbai Police have been implementing the ‘Drug-Free Navi Mumbai’ campaign since January 2025. A dedicated helpline, 8828 112 112, has been launched for citizens to share information about drug sale and consumption.
Over the past three years, Navi Mumbai Police have arrested 2,919 accused and seized 1,027 kg of narcotics worth Rs 142 crore. Action has also been taken against 1,822 drug users, while preventive action was initiated against 300 habitual offenders.
The Navi Mumbai Police Commissionerate was also the first in the state to establish dedicated Anti-Narcotics Cells at individual police stations, enabling local-level monitoring of drug networks and faster action. The initiative was subsequently adopted by the state government for implementation across Maharashtra.
The police have also carried out major operations against drug networks, including ‘Operation Garuda’ and ‘Operation Prahar’, under which 250 foreign nationals were arrested and 2,211 were deported.
The newly operational Navi Mumbai Airport Police Station has been established in view of the expected increase in passenger movement and commercial activity following the Navi Mumbai International Airport. The station has one senior police inspector, six assistant police inspectors/police sub-inspectors and 40 personnel and will be responsible for passenger security, law and order and prompt police response in the airport area.
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