Mumbai: The BMC has identified two potential locations for fire stations along the reclaimed land on the Mumbai Coastal Road: one at Poonam Chambers and another at Amarsons-Tata Garden in Worli. These sites are strategically chosen to improve fire safety and emergency response times in a rapidly developing area.

However, as construction on reclaimed coastal land is regulated under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) laws, the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) will need to obtain permission from the Supreme Court(SC) before proceeding with any construction.

A senior civic official, "A survey was conducted along with the MFB to identify the most suitable locations for the fire stations along the coastal road. Initially, the plan was to construct one of the stations at Worli Dairy, but after the survey, it was concluded that building a fire station at Poonam Chambers would be a more strategic choice. Since it would provide quicker access to emergency locations, improving the response time for firefighting services in the area. The construction of the two fire stations will be carried out through the MFB."

A senior fire official said, "The MFB will submit a proposal to the SC to seek the necessary permissions for the construction of fire stations. Simultaneously, the MFB will work on the design, cost, and specific requirements for the fire stations to ensure they are effectively planned and equipped."

The senior official pointed out that incidents of vehicles catching fire along the coastal road have highlighted the urgent need for fire stations in close proximity to these areas. As per the SC's direction, 'No land reclamation or development can proceed beyond a certain limit without the necessary clearances, and these restrictions must be adhered to.

The 10.58-km coastal road, which stretches from the Princess Street Flyover at Marine Drive to the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, significantly reduces travel time, cutting it down from 45-50 minutes to just 10-12 minutes. The project includes multi-level interchanges at key locations such as Haji Ali, Peddar Road (Amarsons Garden), and Worli Sea Face.