Hyderabad Metro Rail all fired up for smooth ride

They will be fully compliant with provisions of National Building Code and National Fire Protection Association

The Hyderabad Metro Rail project’s stations and buildings under construction will be fully compliant with the provisions of the National Building Code (NBC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Automatic fire detection and alarm systems, automatic sprinkler systems, portable fire extinguishers, gas separation systems etc., will be placed at strategic locations in all metro stations, depots and other buildings, informed officials of HMR and the concessionaire L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad on Monday.

At a meeting held with Director General of Fire Services S.V. Ramana Murthy and senior fire department officials, the metro rail officials discussed fire safety arrangements with regard to protection, prevention, control and detection systems for the project. Smoke detectors and heat detectors which will automatically activate hooters and public announcement systems for early warning and evacuation in the event of fire will also be in place.

Metro stations are being constructed as open stations to allow smoke and heat dissipation. Platforms, stations, staircases etc., are being designed for quick evacuation even under fully loaded and crowded conditions.

Fare collection gates and other closed entries will automatically open up and will remain open in the event of fire, they said.

Every station will have one lakh litres capacity water sumps and pump rooms with sophisticated gadgets for fire control. Fire suppression hydrants and hose reel systems will be located at both ends on each station.

High quality and fire retardant building materials, insulation of electrical wiring and instruments, built-in safety mechanisms, etc., are also being undertaken.

HMR Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy also agreed to facilitate construction of dedicated fire service stations at Uppal and Miyapur depots while Mr. Ramana Murthy said special teams would be constituted for quick examination and fire safety clearance of metro stations, depots and other commercial buildings.

L&TMRHL Managing Director V. B. Gadgil, Director of Fire Services P. Venkateshwar Rao and other senior officers of the department were present.