Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation finally moves proposal for 90-metre ladder

The Andheri fire incident on July 18 seems to have shaken up the municipal authorities. After sitting on the idea for two years, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally moved a proposal to purchase 90-metre tall hydraulic platform – ladder – to help it during fire fighting.

The proposal is expected to be tabled before standing committee on Wednesday.

A fireman lost life, while 20 others received injuries when a massive fire broke at Lotus Business Park in Andheri west last Friday. During its nearly-day long rescue operation last week, the fire brigade had used four ladders, one of them being 70 metre tall. However, given inclination of developers towards constructing high-rises, the BMC had planned to purchase a 90 metre ladder, which is considered as tallest in the world.

When first proposed in the budget for the fiscal year 2012-13, the BMC had estimated cost of the ladder, manufactured only by a Finland-based company Bronto Skylift Oy Ab, at Rs15 crore. Now the same is going to cost Rs19.18 crore.

"Mumbai cannot expand horizontally and hence, we can see increase in the number of high-rises. But this has led to issues relating to fire-fighting, with one of them being need to purchase a taller ladder as the present one is not adequate," a senior civic official said.

The official added the Andheri incident has in a way pushed the department to table the proposal before the standing committee, which makes financial decisions in the BMC.

"The department would have been tabled the proposal anyways. But, few incidents like the Andheri fire episode and the one at Mont Blanc in south Mumbai have again triggered concerns," he said.

The official though added that purchasing a taller ladder will not solve the purpose of fire fighting completely. "Mumbai is a city where there are building as tall as 300 metres or beyond, while world's tallest ladder is of 90 metre height. So, the new ladder is not going to be of help if fire breaks at on a higher floor. Ladder is only supposed to help us access a high-rise during rescue work. But as we have been maintaining, more than the equipment, the building should fight fire," he added.

According to the BMC, there are around 6500 high-rises in Mumbai, where a structure is considered as a high-rise if its height up to or beyond 70 metres.