BMC sets 7-day deadline for handover of land reserved for Andheri West fire station | Mumbai News

Mumbai: A long-pending demand by residents for a full-fledged fire station in Andheri West has finally moved towards resolution. For, BMC has initiated steps to secure a plot reserved for the project.In a March 17 communication, the K-West ward’s building proposal department issued a reminder to the private owner of the plot in Ambivli village to hand over the land reserved for a fire brigade in the development plan. The civic body has also asked the project architect to submit the proposal, along with a bank guarantee, to ensure construction of the fire station within 18 months of approval. The letter states that despite a notice issued on March 6, there has been no compliance from the owner. BMC has now set a final seven-day deadline, failing which it warned of escalating the matter to the collector (Mumbai suburban district) to take possession of the reserved land as per due process. The move came amid growing concerns over lack of fire preparedness in Andheri West, a densely populated suburb. While there is a reservation for a fire brigade on a portion of Chitrakoot grounds, the facility has not been developed so far. In case of a fire in the area, fire tenders have to be dispatched from Goregaon or Vile Parle or Marol, causing inordinate delays. Dhaval Shah, a Lokandwala resident, said almost a fire in the area “almost every month”. Amid the BMC action, a fire broke out on the ninth floor of a 22-storey residential building, Meghdoot, in Andheri West on Tuesday. No injuries were reported. First-time corporator Rupesh Savarkar, who has been following up on the issue of an independent fire station in Andheri West, said he had written to the BMC chief last month. “It has come to our notice that the reserved plot is currently being used illegally for purposes, such as a marriage hall, turf activities and shooting studios. Strict and immediate action should be taken against such unauthorised use. A modern, fully equipped fire station on the plot will significantly enhance emergency response capacity and ensure the safety of residents in the entire locality.”