BMC auctions fire station access, emergency response to be stuck in lanes in rains

Bhopal: Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has auctioned off the frontage space that once enabled direct movement of fire tenders and emergency vehicles at its Fatehgarh control centre.The auction, which fetched about Rs 3 lakh, has effectively blocked the primary access route to the emergency hub, forcing vehicles to rely on narrow lanes behind the Upper Lake.BMC Zone 5 officer Mukesh confirmed the auction, describing it as a decision taken by the parking wing. BMC parking wing officer Abhishek also acknowledged the move, noting that the space next to Sadar Manzil has now been cordoned off with fencing.

We gave this parking space since the designated one in front of Moti Mahal has been cancelled, said Abhishek. Recently, the parking operation erected a fenced with a reserved parking sign.“Movement of emergency vehicles will be almost impossible,” said a senior fire services officer, requesting anonymity.What officials describe as a routine revenue exercise of leasing parking space has, in practice, undermined operational readiness.

Fatehgarh has long been the centre of monsoon relief operations, with district officials and elected representatives coordinating rescue efforts from the site. Staff now warn that the control room, already functioning from a secondary location, has lost its direct vehicle access as well.The original fire station and call centre were demolished in 2023 to make way for a new multi-storey building. Though construction has been completed, the emergency control room continues to operate from a temporary facility with poor connectivity.

The auction of the frontage has further restricted swift deployment, raising concerns as heavy rains approach.Traffic restrictions between Ibrahimpura and Hamidia Hospital have compounded the challenge, leaving emergency vehicles to navigate congested inner roads. What was once a main-road hub for rapid response has been reduced to a back-lane facility.Officials insist services remain functional, but the optics of auctioning off vital access space have raised public interest questions. In a city where resilience depends on speed, the move has been seen as placing emergency response behind revenue priorities.