Mumbai: Plan to obtain motorbikes that fight fire put on hold

Plan to procure motorbikes equipped with fire fighting systems was put on hold as the civic administration had received only one bidder. Opposition sought rebidding to attract more bidders that would help to bring down the cost of the bikes.

The proposal was tabled before the standing committee meeting of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday.

The civic standing committee refused to clear the proposal as they found Rs 71 lakh for procuring five bikes too expensive. Ravi Raja, Congress corporator and leader of opposition said, "The motorbikes seem to be very expensive and even right tendering process was also not followed. We had demanded for the proposal to be recorded." In case a proposal is put on record, administration can submit a new one with necessary changes.

In order to bring down time taken by firefighters to reach sites in narrow lanes, the Mumbai fire brigade proposed to procure motorbikes that will have basic facilities of a pump and water tank in order to carry about 30 litre of water on each side of the bike. It will have the facility to water up to 20 metre.