Mumbai set to become first city to get fire-fighting robot

Mumbai Fire Brigade is ready to acquire it's first fire-fighting robot at the cost of Rs 92 lakh. The robot will allow fire fighters to remotely guide it to the source of fire and douse it. BMC administration has submit the proposal to the standing committee.

Back in December 2015, the fire fighting robot presented in Mumbai Fire Brigade's annual drill had become the talk of the town. In the 2018-19 Budget, the BMC made provisions for this expensive robot to upgrade the fire brigade.

The civic body in April issued tenders for the procurement, commissioning, and testing of the robot and its carrier vehicle. After completing the tender process, BMC administration now plans to submit the proposal to the standing committee on Wednesday. Once the proposal gets cleared by the committee, the BMC will buy it from Ms Shri Lalita for Rs 91,72,800 within six months. Mumbai will be the first city in the country to have a robot for fire fighting.

The body of the robo is made up of aluminium sheets which can withstand the temperature of up to 700 centigrade. It is fitted with a thermal camera capable of detecting fires during day and night. The robot will help in high temperature areas like ground floor, basement or places with a narrow passage, said, Prabhat Rahangdale, Chief Fire Officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade.

BMC is also purchasing a Tata S Supermint vehicle to carry this robot. There will be a hydraulic lift attached to it.