Mumbai: Santacruz mini-fire station ready, but no staff to run it

Corporator Hetal Gala at the mini-fire station set up at Santacruz

A Mini-fire station at Santacruz, completed on January 17 this year, is not yet operational because it lacks a mini-fire engine and staff! Interestingly, the infrastructure was set up through the BMC's special fund of Rs 50 lakh.

The area, once covered with debris, has been transformed with a neat fire station, which houses a garage-like structure for a single mini-fire engine, an air-conditioned cabin which can easily accommodate up to five firemen, and a toilet with water connection. The closest fire stations to the area are at Bandra, Vile Parle East or Juhu Airport, so this mini-fire station could benefit locals.

mid-day is in possession of a letter dated July 2, 2021, to the assistant engineer of H West ward, by the Mumbai Fire Brigade, which states that the delay in starting the fire station, is due to shortage of staff and illegal encroachments on the plot. However, this reporter found there were no encroachments on the land.

‘All approvals are in place'

MLA Ashish Shelar and local corporator Hetal Gala were instrumental in getting the mini-fire station set up. Gala invited this reporter for a site visit to ascertain the facts. "The plot of land is valued at around Rs 93 crore, and had turned into a dumping ground and hot spot for anti-social activities. We got over hundred truckloads of debris removed. All the requisite approvals were obtained and we spent Rs 50 lakh to create the infrastructure," said Gala.

She further added that she has been writing letters to the Fire Brigade (mid-day has a copy of one) to expedite the process of making it operational. "There are no encroachments and there was an issue of a hoarding outside, which is currently being discussed at the ward level. But this is an unacceptable excuse to delay an essential project, which will also be a boon to Khar residents," she added.

‘Delay is unfortunate'

Shelar said that it was one of his pet projects and it was unfortunate that it has been delayed. "I have spoken to the BMC commissioner and have been assured prompt action. This was an urgent requirement as there are no fire stations in Santacruz West and the residents have to rely on fire engines stationed in Bandra JUHU AIRPORT or Vile Parle East," he said.

Station Officer Abhijeet Sawant of Bandra Division said that making provision for staff was a decision to be taken by his superiors. Another senior official from the department confirmed that the primary reason for the delay was lack of manpower and the department was not in a position to give an exact time frame to make the fire station operational, though they had a mini-fire engine.

Chief Fire Officer Hemant Parab did not specifically speak about this mini-fire station when asked about it, but said his department was in the process of adding mini-fire stations in a phase wise manner and they need staff. "We already have 10 such mini-stations, in addition to the existing 15 mini-stations, which require additional manpower," he said.