Delhi plans revamp of fire service with more stations and manpower
Home Minister Ashish Sood announced plans to install mandatory sprinklers in existing buildings and recruit new fire personnel.
The Delhi Government has announced a plan to overhaul the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) by increasing manpower, establishing new fire stations, and procuring modern equipment, according to The Tribune on Tuesday.
Home Minister Ashish Sood shared the action plan following a review meeting led by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu at Lok Niwas. The measures aim to improve emergency response in areas with high population density, narrow lanes, and traffic congestion.
Under the proposal, the sanctioned strength of the DFS will rise based on a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) report. The recruitment of firemen and station officers will be fast-tracked through coordination with the UPSC, DSSSB, the Home Department, and the Services Department.
The government intends to amend DFS Rules to permit private third-party auditors to perform fire safety audits. These auditors and architects will be empanelled with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and trained by the DFS.
Existing buildings may soon require automatic sprinklers and fire alarms to match the standards set for new constructions. The DFS will issue advisories to property owners regarding these requirements under building by-laws.
To prevent electrical overloading, Sood, who also holds the Power portfolio, said power distribution companies BRPL, BYPL, and TPDDL would be directed to upgrade network capacity. Additionally, the DDA will provide land for new fire stations, which the PWD will then build.