BMC draws up fire-fighting blueprint for Unit-1 market

Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has drawn up a comprehensive fire-fighting plan for Unit-I, the city’s biggest retail vegetable and grocery market, aiming to curb frequent fire mishaps that cause repeated losses to traders.

BMC officials said underground pipelines would be laid across the market to create a network of hydrant points along internal roads, ensuring quicker access to water during emergencies. The plan is being implemented in coordination with the power distribution company, the fire services wing and Water Corporation of Odisha (Watco).

BMC will build an underground water storage facility inside the market so that water can be pumped directly to hydrant points when required. Watco will ensure water is sourced from an identified facility and supplied to the storage system. The power department will install high-capacity motor pumps to support rapid pumping and sustained water flow during firefighting operations.

“Underground pipes will be laid in the internal roads of the market so that multiple hydrants can be set up and those can be used in case of mishaps. Fire extinguishing facilities will remain accessible both towards the retail veggie market as well as towards the rows of grocery outlets,” said BMC executive engineer Tarash Marndi.

The Unit-I market reports fire incidents at least twice a year, often resulting in massive damage. In a fire in Jan, properties and goods worth around Rs 8 crore were destroyed. Officials said the blaze was triggered by a short circuit, highlighting the risks posed by electrical wires criss-crossing the market area. Traders said shops in the front rows were reduced to ashes, while vending zones on the left and right sides and back rows were also affected.

Earlier, on Oct 22 last year, at least 30 shops were gutted in an afternoon fire, adding to concerns over the market’s vulnerability and the lack of in-situ firefighting infrastructure.

“The fire services department with BMC officials conducted a detailed survey earlier to prepare the plan to create the in-situ firefighting measures,” BMC officials said.

To enable construction of the storage facility, BMC has planned to free an encroached space within the market. The move has been approved by the special relief commissioner (SRC), officials said, allowing the civic body to proceed with creating a dedicated water tank for emergency use.