AP CM Naidu flags off 58 new firefighting vehicles worth Rs 40 crore
Amaravati, Aug 14 (TNT): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday flagged off 58 advanced firefighting vehicles worth around Rs 40 crore, aimed at strengthening the Fire Services Department and improving emergency response across the state.
The vehicles, procured with funds from the 15th Finance Commission, were flagged off at Seed Access Road.
Fire Services officials explained the features of the newly inducted vehicles to the Chief Minister.
The fleet comprises 25 advanced firefighting vehicles costing Rs 18.68 crore, 20 water bowzers costing Rs 14.79 crore and 13 Quick Response Multipurpose Firefighting Vehicles costing Rs 6.37 crore.
The 25 firefighting vehicles are designed to reach emergencies in rural and forest areas, while the 20 water bowzers, each with a capacity of 14,000 litres, will be used particularly for major fires in urban and industrial areas.
The 13 Quick Response Multipurpose Firefighting Vehicles are equipped with advanced technology to reach narrow and congested areas quickly.
Speaking on the occasion, Naidu said the state government was implementing a Rs 252.86 crore modernisation programme for the Fire Services Department in phases with funding from the Centre and the state government.
He said 65 firefighting vehicles had already been made available in the first phase at a cost of Rs 33 crore, while the present second phase involved 58 vehicles at a cost of Rs 40 crore.
Additional firefighting vehicles and equipment would be procured in the third phase, he said.
The Chief Minister said the government was also strengthening fire station infrastructure across the state, with construction of 17 new fire station buildings underway at a cost of Rs 2.25 crore each. Six of the buildings had already been completed.
In addition, 36 existing fire stations were being modernised, he said.
Naidu said the government was committed to strengthening firefighting infrastructure and ensuring faster and more effective response during fires and other disasters.
Home Minister Anita, Fire Services DG Venkataramana and other senior officials attended the programme.
TNT KM
