Two months on, 6 fire-fighting bikes lie unused

Six Royal Enfield motorcycles recently acquired to combat fires in narrow lanes and difficult-to-reach slums are lying unused at the central fire station in Lohiya Nagar.

The bikes costing Rs 7 lakh each have not yet been distributed to the respective fire stations by the concerned authority.

All dressed up and nowhere to go: The six Royal Enfield motorcycles costing Rs 7 lakh each that the fire brigade acquired in March. File pic

The Chief Fire Officer (CFO) admitted that it is not only the motorcycles that have not been distributed so far, but even the fire extinguishing equipment and other gadgets as well.

Since March, the fire brigade has received calls of fire incidents in areas like Tadiwala road, Ambedakar Nagar, Wadarwadi and Vaiduwadi, but the bikes are yet to see action.

"We haven't yet distributed the vehicles to the fire stations therefore they couldn't be used," said CFO Prashant Ranpise.
Regarding why the bikes were not distributed to the respective fire stations even after almost two months of being purchased, Ranpise said that the distribution of motorcycles will happen after the previously purchased fire extinguishing equipment and gadgets were distributed.

"I am also waiting for the internal transfers, after which I will distribute the bikes," Ranpise said.

Deputy Municipal Commissioner Pravin Ashtikar, who has additional charge of the city's fire brigade, said that all the vehicles are operational, but fortunately the city has not witnessed any fire incident requiring the bikes to be used. u00a0