In order to ensure easy availability of fire services in every nook and corner of the district, Gautam Budh Nagar fire department has decided to set up four fire stations in Noida and Greater Noida. The department has sent a proposal to Uttar Pradesh fire services for its approval after sanctioning of lands by Noida and Greater Noida Authorities for the plan.
The proposed fire stations will come up in Sector 39, Sector 67 and Sector 126 in Noida, and Ucotech-IV in Greater Noida. With the establishment of four new stations, total number of fire stations will augment to eight.
According to a senior official of fire department, the plan was proposed keeping in view the increase in population by double and manifold increase in industries in and around both the cities in the last two decades. It is suspected that this is the major reason that fire incidents have been reported regularly from various parts of the region.
"As multi-storey buildings are being constructed and industries are being set up, it is the need of the hour to enhance the capacity of fire department. Earlier, we had written to both Authorities in this regard and only after getting their approval, have we forwarded the proposal to the State fire services," said Munindra Kumar Tyagi, Chief Fire Officer, Gautam Budh Nagar.
"As the present fire stations are in Phase I, II, III and in Ucotech-II, we have planned to construct stations in other regions as well, so that less time is wasted in reaching the spot. Three stations will be built in the industrial belt, while one will be built in Sector 39, which is a residential area. Each station is estimated to cover a population of around 2.5 lakh," he said.
The District Fire Department has only 80 fire fighters and 21 fire vehicles. The department faces bounty of problems due to its inadequate capacity while approaching the place where fire breaks out. In most of the cases, they do not reach in time causing a major loss of valuable property as well as human life. Apart from this, the department is also facing tough situation due to increasing number of residential and industrial units across the region.