Most prisoners in Karnataka may no longer "live" in cities once the government completes a Rs 40 crore project to shift prisons to the outskirts.

Minister for prisons, Umesh V Katti said the government is embarking on the project to shift eight prisons in district headquarters, including in Shimoga, Hassan and Davanagere, to their outskirts.

Bangalore prisons located in the heart of the city, where BJP stalwart L K Advani was incarcerated during Emergency, has already been shifted to the city outskirts, with the existing premises having been developed as "Freedom Park".

Meanwhile, the government's efforts to hire private security guards for prison duty (not inside jails but for tasks such as frisking outside) have come to nought.

He said there was no response from private security firms for government tender in this regard -- Government's clause that the firms need to be accredited and they need to have security personnel in excess 300 on their rolls is a deterrent as such agencies are not many.