After a year of complaining, just ahead of the polls, Chandivli residents to finally get an independent fire station. But, they remain cautiously optimistic
The current Chandivli mini fire station. PIC/SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Chandivli residents are trying to not get carried away with the news that they might get an independent fire station for the area soon. Just ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the civic body has sanctioned the tender for the proposed Chandivli fire station, a move that residents and activists have welcomed, albeit cautiously. This is because nearly a year after multiple complaints, with even mid-day highlighting the issue, the tendering process has finally reached its final phases, say civic sources.
The tender has in fact now reached the opening of the Packet C scheduled for December 23. “Once this stage is completed and the contract is awarded, work on the fire station is expected to begin shortly. The project aims to provide Chandivli and its surrounding areas with a fully functional fire station, significantly improving emergency response times,” said the BMC official.
At present, Chandivli depends on fire stations located several kilometres away either at Marol or at Vikhroli, leading to critical delays during fire emergencies, especially in densely populated residential pockets and commercial zones. Residents have been pointing out that rapid urbanisation, high-rise developments, congested roads and a spurt in the hospitality establishments like pubs and restaurants around Powai and the absence of a local fire station has been an unnecessary safety risk.
Residents react
“This fire station is not a luxury; it is a necessity,” said Mandeep Sing Makker, founder of Chandivali Citizens Welfare Association (CCWA) “We hope the civic body ensures that work starts immediately after the tender is finalised and that there are no further hold-ups considering the upcoming elections. The work that has received a green signal before the model code of conduct was in place cannot and need not be stopped during the elections. Thus, without any further delay, the beginning of the work is expected. We sincerely hope that the fire station is constructed at the earliest and that the BMC does not limit this to merely floating a tender. We have already seen what happened with the proposed 90-feet road connecting JVLR to Chandivli Farm Road.”
If completed as planned, the fire station is expected to greatly enhance fire safety and emergency preparedness in Chandivli, bringing much-needed relief to thousands of residents. “It’s a long fight that finally feels like a victory now that the tendering process is almost completed. We hope that there should not be any fire accident. However, in case there is one now, we hope to have a better and quicker response with this new fire station,” said Sukumar Panicker, a resident of Chandivli.
“After the massive fire accident that killed seven people some 10 years ago, the only thing that our area got, was a non-functional, built-for-namesake fire station. I hope at least to shine on the face of BMC elections, the officials get this done quickly, now that the tendering process is in its last phase. These are basic needs that any densely populated area must have,” said another resident Dr Neeraj Tulara.
What will the new fire station have?
Total built up area 1,217.63 sq.m. Ground + 6 fire station building which will also have officer and service quarters RCC Ground + 4 drill towers, a pump station, overhead and underground tanks, rain water harvesting tank.
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