The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has initiated a fire-safety procurement plan for all 53 markets under its control, with fire extinguishers to be installed to help contain outbreaks before fire tenders reach the site. The civic body’s Market Department has completed the e-tendering process for the work, according to a report by Sanmarg.
The estimated cost of the installation has been fixed at ₹31,97,410, including goods and services tax and cess. The plan covers markets across Kolkata that are administered by the municipal corporation. Different types of fire extinguishers will be installed according to the requirements of individual markets, the report said.
The move follows concerns over the time taken by fire engines to reach crowded market locations after a fire begins. According to information attributed to civic sources, fires can spread rapidly through shops and market premises during this interval, increasing the risk of damage to property and goods. Providing equipment for initial response is intended to strengthen the first line of fire control at the site.
In a market fire, the first few minutes can determine whether an incident remains limited or spreads across adjoining shops and structures. Traders associated with several of the municipal markets have welcomed the initiative, saying that fire extinguishers available within the premises could help control a blaze at an early stage. Their response was reported in the context of the corporation’s proposed installation programme.
The plan is focused on the 53 markets operated under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation rather than on all markets in the city. Its immediate purpose is to make basic firefighting equipment available at market locations and enable quicker action while emergency services are travelling to the site. The proposal does not replace the role of the fire brigade; instead, it is intended to provide an initial response before fire engines arrive.
The procurement is being handled through the corporation’s Market Department, which has already issued the e-tender for the installation work. The reported cost includes GST and cess, but the supplied information does not specify the number of extinguishers planned for each market, the installation schedule, the selected contractor or the maintenance arrangements after installation.
Kolkata’s markets combine shops, stored merchandise and steady public movement within often-constrained premises, making the availability of basic emergency equipment an important operational issue. The effectiveness of the plan will depend on the installation of suitable extinguishers, their accessibility within the markets and the arrangements for keeping them ready for use. The civic corporation’s next step is to proceed with the tender and implement the installation across the 53 markets covered by the scheme.
