The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had earmarked a land for the construction of a fire station in Mahipalpur in 2002. However, even after 16 years, the Department is waiting for land allotment.
In a letter sent by Chief Fire Officer Vipin Kental to the DDA director in September 2018, it is stated that allotment of land at Mahipalpur for construction of a fire station and staff quarters is required urgently.
The Department has already made several requests in the last 10 years. The land has already been earmarked for a fire station in the DDA area-planning map. The utility of the land for the Delhi Fire Service can be understood by its importance due to many motels and hotels that have come up in the area and IGI airport.
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The area surrounds 250 hotels and several other five-star hotels at Aerocity. In case of an emergency, the Airport Authority does not allow to use their fire engines. Mahipalpur and Aerocity areas are covered by fire stations at Chanakyapuri and Bhikaji Cama Place that are around 10 km away.
This leads to a delay in response of fire service vehicles coming from Chanakyapuri and Bhikaji Cama Place fire stations. It is therefore, requested again to allot this land for construction of fire station and staff quarters immediately.
In the DDA planning map, 0.51 acre land was allotted for the fire station.
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“The planning of construction of a fire station at Mahipalpur began in 2002 and finally a plot of 0.51 acre was earmarked in 2008. It has been 16 years, we are waiting for the allotment letter from the DDA to install a new fire station,” said a fire officer.
“We will look into this particular issue. If there is any pending application, it will be given on a priority basis. Once the matter is reviewed, we will take a call based on priority and urgency,” said DDA Vice-Chairman Tarun Kapoor.