Mumbai: Each ward to get a fire bike in next four months

Fire engines often struggle to manoeuvre through narrow lanes. A fire bike can start firefighting at such places immediately. File pic

Each of Mumbai's 24 wards will get a fire bike that will be the first responders to fire calls. The vehicles are expected to be a part of the Mumbai Fire Brigade within four months. The civic corporation will submit a proposal to procure the two-wheelers at the standing committee meeting on Wednesday. It will spend Rs 11.28 lakh per bike and Rs 1.18 lakh for maintenance for five years.

mid-day had reported on October 17 that the BMC was giving finishing touches to its plan to buy the fire bikes that can carry 40 litres of water and can manoeuvre through the city's congested bylanes to quickly reach the scenes of fires. Officials said a fire bike can start tackling a fire till bigger fire engines arrive at the spot.

Though the BMC had decided to buy fire bikes after a fire in a medical store at Andheri west left nine dead June 30, 2016, the procurement did not immediately take off.

The fire brigade invited tenders in January 2018, but they were not accepted by the standing committee. The process was repeated after two years but it got held up over permissions from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways due to COVID. The corporation extended the tender deadlines for 13 times.

As per the latest proposal, each fire bike will be equipped with a water tank, water mist system and a hose reel and other accessories worth Rs 10 lakh, while the basic two-wheeler will cost Rs 1.28 lakh apiece. Including the maintenance cost of Rs 1.18 lakh per bike for five years, the BMC will be spending Rs 3.15 crore, including 4 per cent tax, on the project.

"A fire bike can carry about 40 litres of water, a pump and two firemen. While the quantity of water may seem inadequate, it can act as the first-line defence. The bike will reach at least five to six minutes earlier and start the fire extinguishing operation," said an official from the fire brigade.

Giving more details on the fire bike, the official added, "The pump attached to the fire bike can spray about 8 litres of water in a minute. Even if water is not available at the site of a fire, it can work for five minutes."

Rs 3.15crore
Amount BMC will spend on the fire bikes including tax