17 more fire stations for Delhi by '13, says minister

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha 17 more fire stations would be commissioned in Delhi by 2013, taking the total to 70.

During the Question Hour, Minister of State for Home Mullappally Ramachandran said, “In the 10th and 11th Five-Year Plans, 22 fire stations have been commissioned taking the total to 53, as on date. Eight more are in various stages of construction. By 2013, 70 fire stations are targeted to be achieved.”

Pilot project

He also said Delhi Fire Service had started a pilot project of placing mobile fire tenders at strategic locations. Five such tenders have already been placed. “The total strength of the fire fighting units in Delhi Fire Service is 243, which includes water tenders, rescue tenders, rescue responders and foam tenders.”

Replying to a question on whether the Standing Fire Advisory Council (SFAC) has recommended that fire tenders should reach the place of incident in three-five minutes of getting a complaint, the minister said it would be difficult for fire tenders to reach spots of incidents in the national Capital within three-five minutes unless dedicated lanes are made available.

The Standing Fire Advisory Council, a Ministry of Home Affairs-appointed committee, advises on all aspects of development of fire service in the country.

Response time

“The response time varies considerably and depends on traffic conditions en route and the distance from the fire stations,” the minister said.

Ramachandran admitted in the majority of the cases, the response time was more than three to five minutes, especially in the congested areas of Delhi.