Nagpur Faces Fire Safety Crisis as NMC Proposes 33 New Hydrants Amid Decline in Functional Units Nagpur, once home to nearly 1,000 fire hydrants in the 1960s, now struggles with a drastically reduced network. Today, the city has only 29 hydrants, of which just nine remain functional. This severe decline has consistently hampered firefighting operations, forcing emergency teams to rely on water tankers and distant sources, often leading to delays during critical incidents. The city’s fire department has long highlighted the urgent need for a robust hydrant system, particularly in densely populated and commercial areas where even minor delays can escalate fire risks. Against this backdrop, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has proposed a plan to install 33 new fire hydrants across the city. The initiative, estimated to cost Rs55.32 lakh, is set to be discussed at the NMC’s standing committee meeting on April 10. The proposal is part of a broader agenda that includes nine works and administrative items, collectively valued at over Rs5.9 crore. The NMC’s plan aims to address the longstanding issue of defunct and inaccessible hydrants, which have persisted for years. Many existing units lie buried, damaged, or encroached upon, further exacerbating the city’s fire safety challenges. The NMC’s proposal comes amid repeated calls from the fire department for a comprehensive overhaul of the hydrant network. Despite earlier efforts, such as transferring existing hydrants to the fire department for better control, the situation has shown little improvement. The new installations are expected to significantly enhance the city’s ability to respond to emergencies, though questions remain about whether this incremental fix will finally revive a long-neglected system.#nagpur #fire_department #nagpur_municipal_corporation #nmc #fire_hydrants
