The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) is set to install and refill a total of 109 fire extinguishers across its various offices, following a series of safety lapses and a recent bomb hoax that highlighted significant vulnerabilities in the civic body's buildings.
Security Upgrade Details
The security upgrade, estimated to cost nearly ₹2.7 lakh, comes at a time when the MC's four zonal and 16 sub-zonal offices are operating with only four to five extinguishers per zone. Thousands of residents visit these offices on a daily basis.
According to the official proposal, the civic body has floated tenders to purchase 68 ABC-type 6kg extinguishers designed for common fires, and 16 CO2-type 4.5kg extinguishers intended for electrical and flammable liquid hazards. Additionally, 25 existing ABC-type 4kg units will be refilled.
Years of Neglect
These upgrades follow years of neglect concerning the National Building Code's fire safety mandates. A hydrant and hose reel system installed near the Zone A office during the construction of a multi-story parking complex has fallen into disrepair.
An anonymous fire department official stated that senior administrators had long ignored comprehensive safety measures and failed to secure fire no-objection certificates (NOCs). The official noted that even the local fire department headquarters lacked built-in systems, relying instead on stationary fire tenders.
Broader Compliance Push
However, officials indicated that the new extinguishers represent just the first phase of a broader compliance push. Tenders for mandatory hydrants, hose reels, and automated alarm systems are expected to be issued in the coming days.
MC Secretary Neeraj Jain confirmed the safety initiative, stating that the civic body is committed to upgrading infrastructure to ensure public safety across all zonal headquarters.
