Capital to get first underground CBRN command centre for disasters

Delhi is set to get its first underground Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) command centre at the new headquarters of the Delhi Fire Services, a first-of-its-kind facility aimed at significantly strengthening the capital’s preparedness for nuclear emergencies, chemical disasters and large-scale crises.

A tender has been floated for the project, inviting bids for the construction of the new Delhi Fire Services (DFS) headquarters and the creation of specialised emergency-response infrastructure. The proposed headquarters will house a plug-and-play underground CBRN command centre designed to remain operational during nuclear warfare, radiological leaks or chemical disasters.

Chief Fire Officer Abhilash Malik said that the facility would be specially engineered to shield personnel from nuclear radiation and ensure uninterrupted coordination among multiple agencies during emergencies.

“This will be the first such CBRN command centre in the national capital. It is being designed in a way that radiation will not affect personnel inside, enabling effective command and coordination during critical situations,” Malik said.

He added that during disasters, the command centre would coordinate operations at the city’s three existing disaster centres at Nehru Place, Laxmi Nagar and Rohini, besides guiding the DFS Search and Rescue battalion.

The facility will be built at the site of the existing DFS headquarters and is expected to be completed within five years. A senior police officer said, “The fire department is always at the forefront during any major disaster, whether it is extinguishing fires, carrying out rescue operations or supporting multiple agencies in managing large-scale emergencies.”

He added that the creation of a dedicated CBRN command centre is a significant step towards strengthening Delhi’s preparedness for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents.  “Such a facility will enhance coordination, improve response time and ensure that the fire services can provide critical operational support to all stakeholder agencies during high-risk situations,” the officer said.

The proposed CBRN command centre is part of a broader modernisation roadmap of the Delhi Fire Services focused on major technological upgrades to enhance emergency response capabilities across the capital.

Within the next year, the department plans to set up a centralised command and control centre equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI), GPS and GIS-based systems for real-time monitoring and coordination, along with separate command centres in each of its five operational zones.

Delhi Fire Services plans to expand its footprint across the national capital, with eight new fire stations slated to open in the next six months, and drone-based surveillance and firefighting technology upgrade will be part of an ambitious 25-year modernisation roadmap. Malik said the department has initiated the expansion of eight fire stations over the next six months at Rohini Sector-41, Geeta Colony, Anand Parbat, Yamuna Vihar, Dwarka Sector-3, Dwarka Sector-20, IFC Narela and Budhanpur Majra.