Ludhiana: City officials have fast-tracked a ₹1.81 crore plan to build a new fire station in Ludhiana’s western constituency, but the project has hit an unusual snag: the tenders have been floated before a site has been finalised.Under pressure from local govt minister, Sanjeev Arora, to deliver the promised facility, municipal corporation (MC) staff are scrambling to secure land after their initial choice became mired in bureaucratic disputes. The project was originally slated for Lodhi Club Road on land previously allocated for commercial offices. However, that site was abandoned after officials discovered the plot was shared with the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited and the irrigation department — and had been selected without the necessary “no-objection” certificates.The search has now shifted to a market in BRS Nagar. The proposed site is currently home to a garbage compactor, which officials plan to relocate to nearby SBS Nagar to make room for fire trucks. The current proposal is for locating the station at BRS Nagar market (pending final approval). As for the secondary benefit, relocating the garbage compactor would resolve long-standing complaints from local shopkeepers regarding foul odours in the market.Strategic NecessityLudhiana’s west constituency is a densely populated residential hub that currently relies on the Hambran Road fire station for emergencies. Fire officials have long advocated for a station closer to key landmarks like the Verka milk plant or the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) gates to ensure faster response times. The city currently operates seven fire stations: Central, Sunder Nagar, Focal Point, Hambran Road, Rahon Road, Tajpur Road, and Gill Road.Despite the urgency of the project and the logistical hurdles of the land search, senior leadership remains tight-lipped. Neither MC commissioner Neeru Katyal Gupta nor superintending engineer Sham Lal Gupta responded to requests for comment regarding the status of the land acquisition or the timeline for construction. With the tenders already in the market, officials are now on a deadline to finalise the BRS Nagar site or risk further delaying a critical piece of public safety infrastructure. MSID:: 130238354 413 |
