The matter was heard by a division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal. The bench said the court would closely monitor the project to ensure adherence to timelines and construction quality. The next hearing has been scheduled for March 17.
The fire station project was approved in 2020, but the district administration failed to identify a suitable site for over two years. The issue resurfaced following recent fire incidents at a power distribution substation and nearby shops in Mopka, highlighting serious gaps in the city’s fire safety infrastructure.
Taking note of media reports on the matter, the Chief Justice initiated proceedings by treating the issue as a public interest case and sought a detailed affidavit from the state government.
In its affidavit, the government stated that after considering multiple locations, including Sakri Road and Koni, land in Kududand was finalised for the project. However, the site’s marshy soil required the use of specialised raft foundation technology, leading to revisions in cost estimates. Officials admitted that administrative approvals for the revised estimate took nearly two additional years.
The affidavit further noted that the original tender had to be cancelled due to procedural lapses, including the failure to submit a mandatory checklist from the superintendent engineer’s office within the stipulated time.
Currently, Bilaspur relies on an interim fire station with limited manpower, outdated equipment and inadequate water storage. Officials have acknowledged that the existing arrangement is insufficient to handle major fire emergencies, posing a significant risk to public safety.
Following the court’s intervention, the state informed that the new fire station will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹1.55 crore. The contractor has been warned that failure to execute the agreement within 15 days will result in forfeiture of the security deposit.
The High Court has also sought comprehensive information on the status of fire stations across Chhattisgarh. As per preliminary data submitted, only nine fully functional fire stations are currently operational in the state. The court observed that the issue has statewide implications and requires sustained oversight.
