ISLAMABAD: The capital city is set to have five new fire stations, the construction of which is expected to start next month.

“With the improvement in the financial condition of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), a decision has been taken to invest in this essential facility,” said Asim Khichi, the spokesman for the civic agency.

The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the CDA Development Working Party (CDA-DWP) on Thursday.

The working party approved Rs408.17 million PC-I to establish four new fire brigade sub-stations and upgrade the existing one at Sector G-5.

“It is essential to minimise the response time for the fire service in case of a fire or any other emergency situation,” member environment Mustafain Kazmi told the meeting. These sub-stations will be established at I-9 sector, G-11, I-14 and Humak.

Meanwhile, talking to Dawn, a senior official of the fire and emergency response department said the population of the city had grown enormously. “Providing a back-up from the existing fire station at G-7 is difficult now,” the official said.

To reduce the travelling time, the fire department has selected several spots in the city where a fire vehicle is dispatched from the main station each morning which remains there till the evening.

“But there are no drinking water, sitting space or washroom facilities even at the shanty sub-station at G-5 sector,” he added. “Besides, there is the difficulty of refilling water in the fire tenders as all the tubewells are not equipped with hydrants.”

The sub-stations will have water supply facilities and living quarters for firemen to ensure 24-hour presence of material and manpower even in the distant spots. The CDA has 42 firefighting vehicles, including two 68-meter-high and two 29-meter-high snorkels.

Besides, the construction of two underpasses at Faisal Avenue - one between Sector G-7 and G-8 opposite the ZTBL and the other between Sector F-7 and F-8 – was also approved. The estimated cost of the two underpasses is Rs.850.21 million. The work on the site is expected to start from next month.

However, with half of the city already facing excavation due to the metro bus project, the work on Faisal Avenue would add to the traffic choking in the city.

The CDADWP also approved the revised PC-I for the dualisation of Lehtrar Road from Tramrri Chowk to Pinsteck at a cost of Rs1.16 billion and the construction of an additional block at the Capital Hospital at a cost of Rs87.69 million.

Published in Dawn, January 23rd, 2015

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