Years on, work on Fire Station yet to start at Maharaj Gunj

Srinagar: Despite passing of several years, authorities have failed to start work on Fire Station at Maharaj Gunj locality in Downtown here.

To mention, Maharaj Ganj locality remains one of the congested and fire-prone areas in Srinagar. They said that after the building of one of the oldest F&E service stations at Maharaj Gunj was declared unsafe, the Fire Station was moved out of the locality.

   

“Given the risk-prone congested area of Downtown, the locals and business community reached out to the government to build the Fire Station in the same locality. After much deliberation, land was identified at Maharaj Gunj years back. However, there was no headway to construct the new Fire Station,” said Ayaz Zehgeer, chief organizer of Beopar Mandal Traders organization.

He said the new location was chosen at Sokalipora Maharaj Gunj. “But the work never started,” he said.

The locals said that over the past few years there have been scores of fire incidents in the area. “The area being congested led to heavy damages to residential structures. At times, locals risk their lives to save property, but all efforts go in vain in absence of Fire Station,’ said Zahid Farooq, a local.

An official said that the R&B department has been tasked to proceed with the work. He said that after years, many formalities were completed and the work is supposed to start soon. “Some of the formalities like detailed project report and financial part were cleared and we are hopeful that work will start soon,” said the official.

SE R&B Qayoom Kirmani said that they have finished the majority of paperwork and other formalities.

“Much technical work has been completed and we are almost done with the administrative approval as well. As soon as the technical approval will be also cleared we will go ahead with the work,” Kirmani said.

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