Delhi has announced a major overhaul of the Delhi Fire Service, combining new recruitment, specialised equipment, additional fire stations and tighter safety requirements for existing buildings to address the capital’s growing emergency-response challenges.
Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood outlined the action plan after a review meeting chaired by the Lieutenant Governor at Lok Niwas. The government said the overhaul would focus on operational constraints created by narrow lanes, high population density, traffic congestion, electrical overloading and the increasing use of synthetic furnishings and plastic materials in residential buildings.
“The safety and protection of every Delhi resident is our highest priority. We are executing a complete, multi-departmental revamping of the Delhi Fire Service, upgrading our technology, expanding frontline manpower, and fixing infrastructure bottlenecks,” Sood said.
The plan includes expediting the recruitment of station officers and firemen in coordination with the Home Department, the Services Department, the Union Public Service Commission and the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board. The sanctioned strength of the fire service will be increased in accordance with a Ministry of Home Affairs report and concurrence from the Department of Administrative Reforms.
The government also plans to introduce regular fitness assessments for fire operators and procure specialised firefighting equipment according to MHA norms. The equipment will be acquired through a memorandum of understanding between the Delhi Fire Service and the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. The emergency communication system of the fire service is also scheduled for an overhaul.
Additional fire stations are planned, with the Delhi Development Authority expected to allot land and the Public Works Department responsible for construction. The division of responsibility places land availability and project execution at the centre of the expansion plan, although the government has not specified the number, locations or construction schedule of the proposed stations in the announcement.
Electrical safety is another part of the action plan. The Power Department will direct distribution companies BRPL, BYPL and TPDDL to address electrical overloading by increasing sanctioned loads and upgrading network capacity. The measure is aimed at reducing risks associated with overloaded electrical systems in buildings and neighbourhoods.
The government is also considering making sprinkler systems and fire alarms mandatory in existing buildings, bringing them closer to the standards applicable to new construction. Fire safety rules would be amended to allow qualified private third-party auditors to conduct safety audits.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the New Delhi Municipal Council and the DDA will be responsible for incorporating fire safety requirements into building byelaws and acting against unauthorised construction and other violations. The Delhi Fire Service will conduct awareness campaigns in educational institutions, markets and resident welfare associations. The government’s next steps include coordinating recruitment, equipment procurement, land allotment, rule amendments and enforcement across the departments involved.
