The BMC has plans to construct five new fire stations across Mumbai to strengthen the city's emergency response capabilities. Two of these stations will be located along the Mumbai Coastal Road (South) to ensure faster and more efficient services during emergencies. The civic body has allocated Rs. 261.72 crores to upgrade the infrastructure and enhance the capabilities of the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB).

The MFB plays a vital role in responding to disasters such as fires, building collapses, and other emergencies. However, the budget allocated for strengthening its infrastructure in the financial year 2024-25 was reduced to Rs. 159 crores, down from the earlier provision of Rs. 232 crores. The BMC has increased the budget allocation for the upcoming financial year to enhance the MFB's fleet of firefighting equipment with construction of new fire stations. 

Currently, there are 35 major and 19 small fire stations operating across the city. Construction of new fire stations at Thakur Village in Kandivali East has been completed, and the station at LBS Road in Kanjur Marg is nearing completion. "We had plans to construct new fire stations at Juhu Tara Road in Santacruz West, Mahul Road in Chembur, and Tilak Nagar last year. However, since funds for the construction of these new fire stations have been allocated in the new financial year, work will start shortly," said a senior fire official.

Two new fire stations will be built along the coastal road in Worli, at Poonam Chambers and Amarsons-Tata Garden, to ensure quick access to emergency sites. In addition to these, the MFB is set to receive four hydraulic platforms equipped with state-of-the-art technology for high-rise fire fighting by March 2025. The procurement of 11 First Respond Fire Engines with advanced technology, four support vehicles with high-pressure water pumps and lighting arrangements, six robotic life-saving buoys, and 35 smoke exhausters and blowers is currently underway. 

Furthermore, the MFB plans to introduce new fire-fighting technologies such as the Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) and drones, which will be particularly useful in tackling fires in high-rise buildings, where conventional fire-fighting methods may not be as effective, reads the budget for fiscal 2025-26.