BMC wants fire engines at LT Marg police station

The BMC has sought permission from the state government for stationing two fire engines at the Lokmanya Tilak (LT) Marg police station or the small causes court.

Janak Sanghvi, BJP corporator from Kalbadevi, has demanded that a fire station in C ward, as there isn’t one in the vicinity. “In case of any disaster, fire engines have to be rushed from Byculla or Fort,” he said.

As there is no land available for a fire station, Sanghvi demanded in a meeting of the improvement committee that the BMC could at least station two fire engines at the police station or the court. Manoj Kotak, chairman of the committee, said that the civic administration has already asked for permission from the department concerned in the state government.

Sanghvi said, “I had suggested that a fire station could be built on a plot belonging to an Irani cemetery close to Marine Lines station. It has not been used for cremation in 50 years. The civic administration, however, refused to acquire the land as it falls under the CRZ [Coastal Regulation Zone].” Chira Bazaar, Kalbadevi and some parts of Bhendi Bazaar come under C ward. Every year, at least 25 fire incidents and several incidents of building collapses are reported from the Kalbadevi area.