Mumbai’s civic body has approved a Rs 22.73-crore project to establish a full-fledged fire station in Chandivali, replacing the existing mini fire station and enhancing emergency response capabilities in the rapidly developing eastern suburbs.
The proposal, recently cleared by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) standing committee, includes the construction of a modern fire station along with residential quarters for fire brigade personnel. The project has been awarded to M.M. Enterprises and is expected to be completed within two years.
At present, emergency calls from Chandivali and Saki Naka are largely attended by fire engines dispatched from Marol or Vikhroli, often resulting in longer response times in densely populated areas such as Chandivali and Powai. The new facility aims to address this challenge by providing dedicated firefighting infrastructure within the locality.
Planned near the Lake Home project, the proposed fire station will have a built-up area of 1,271.63 square metres. The development will feature a ground-plus-six-storey building housing the fire station and residential accommodation for officers and staff. Additional facilities will include a ground-plus-four-storey drill tower, pump room, overhead and underground water tanks, rainwater harvesting systems, and other supporting infrastructure.
The demand for a larger fire station gained urgency following the June 6, 2015, fire at the Lake Lucerne tower in Powai, which claimed seven lives and left 28 people injured. Despite the growth of high-rise residential developments in the area, Chandivali and Powai have continued to rely on a mini fire station with limited manpower and infrastructure.
According to estimates by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), the city currently operates 35 fire stations but requires at least 60 additional facilities to meet the needs of its expanding population and increasingly complex urban environment. Although 26 new fire stations were proposed under the Development Plan 2014–2034, implementation has been slow due to land availability constraints.
Mumbai records nearly 4,500 fire incidents annually, underscoring the need for stronger emergency response infrastructure across the city.
Source: The Free Press Journal
