A fire engine responding to a blaze near Ahmedabad’s Teen Darwaja reportedly struggled to reach the site because of traffic congestion, roadside parking and violations of one-way rules in the city’s crowded Kot area, highlighting continuing concerns over emergency access during the Diwali shopping season.
According to a report by Divya Bhaskar, a fire broke out at night in a building located behind a shop near Teen Darwaja. Fire department personnel were alerted and vehicles from the Panchkuva fire station were sent to the location. However, the vehicles encountered heavy congestion on the approach from the Ratanpol side.
The report said vehicles parked on the road had reduced the available carriageway, while motorists entering roads marked for one-way movement further obstructed the fire engine. The vehicle reportedly made its way through the traffic with difficulty before reaching Teen Darwaja, where the fire was brought under control.
The incident has raised concerns about the ability of fire engines and ambulances to enter and move through the historic commercial district during emergencies. The Kot area includes busy shopping and market zones around Lal Darwaja, Bhadra Plaza, Teen Darwaja, Ratanpol and Gandhi Road, where pedestrian and vehicular movement increases during the festival shopping period.
The report said roadside parking remains a persistent problem in the area even though pay-and-park facilities are available. It also pointed to congestion caused by vendors operating outside designated railings at Bhadra Plaza. These additional stalls narrow pedestrian and vehicular movement and make it harder for emergency vehicles to pass through the market area.
The area around Bhadra Kali Temple is also expected to see a rise in visitors during Diwali. The report said vehicles belonging to devotees have limited parking options, while unauthorised stalls are placed in front of the temple, adding to the pressure on roads and public space.
The incident brings into focus the operational challenge faced by emergency services in dense, mixed-use districts where shopping streets, religious destinations, informal vending and vehicle movement compete for limited road space. In such areas, the availability of a fire station alone does not guarantee quick response if access routes are blocked or poorly managed.
Divya Bhaskar reported that traffic police and municipal authorities had not made adequate arrangements to keep roads clear ahead of the festival crowds. The report also said that action to remove vendors occupying road space had not been consistently carried out by the municipal corporation and local police.
The report did not provide a response from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, traffic police or fire department on the incident, the time taken by the fire engine to reach Teen Darwaja, or any immediate plan for traffic control and emergency corridors in the market district.
