Mumbai Fire Brigade Set to Get Drones, Robots, and High-Tech Vehicles with INR 736.63 Crore Investment
In response to the increasing complexities of urban life and the rapid rise in skyscrapers across Mumbai, the fire brigade is set to receive a major technological upgrade, with an investment of INR 736.63 crore aimed at empowering its personnel and bolstering the city’s fire response capabilities. The growth in population and the construction of high-rise buildings in place of older chalws have introduced new challenges for the fire brigade, which has often struggled to manage large-scale fires in dense, high-rise environments.
To address these challenges, the administration has introduced a range of advanced firefighting solutions, including the import of cutting-edge robotic systems from France. These robots are designed to combat fires from a safe distance, significantly improving firefighter safety while enhancing the efficiency of firefighting operations. Alongside these high-tech robots, five mini water tenders with a water mist system have been deployed to combat fires in densely populated slums and narrow streets, where traditional firefighting equipment often struggles to access.
The fire brigade has also acquired seven first-response vehicles with hydraulic platforms and advanced high-rise firefighting systems, with three already operational and the remaining four expected to be commissioned by March 2025. The procurement of additional equipment, such as 11 first-response fire vehicles with the latest technology, auxiliary vehicles equipped with high-pressure water pumps, robotic life-saving devices, and 35 smoke extractors, is underway. With the anticipated increase in traffic along the Mumbai Coastal Road (South) due to future infrastructural developments, two new fire stations are set to be constructed in strategic locations.
In addition to this, new fire stations will be established at key locations such as Juhu Tara Road, Santacruz (W), Mahool Road, Chembur, and Tilak Nagar, ensuring rapid fire response times in key urban hubs. The financial outlook for the Mumbai Fire Brigade has shown substantial improvement, with an expected income of INR 759.18 crore for the fiscal year 2024-25. This marks a significant increase from the previous year’s projection of INR 301.02 crore, reflecting the enhanced capabilities and the growing importance of modern firefighting technologies in managing Mumbai’s urban challenges. This major investment underscores Mumbai’s commitment to building a future-proof fire response system capable of addressing the growing risks posed by urbanisation and climate change, ensuring both safety and resilience for its citizens.
