Gujarat govt rolls out 200cr unified fire services plan

Gandhinagar: After a series of deadly fire incidents in the state, Gujarat govt is pushing a major fire safety reform. The govt has set aside Rs 200 crore this year to create a centralised, well-equipped firefighting force under the ‘One State, One Cadre' policy. Under this plan, all municipal fire services will be integrated into a unified, centrally managed force to improve emergency response times and prevent future disasters.

This initiative will cut emergency response times, bring in advanced fire trucks and equipment, and standardise fire safety measures across all municipalities.

A task force, led by the director of state fire services, will oversee the project, ensuring that resources, training, and equipment are standardised across all fire stations.

The 2025-26 state budget has allocated Rs 162 crore toward fire safety, with additional grants increasing the total to nearly Rs 200 crore. The Gujarat Fire and Emergency Services allocated Rs 32 crore to set up 16 fire stations in various municipalities and a model fire station at Ahwa, Dang. The aim is to achieve a response time of 5-7 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in rural regions.

About Rs 40 crore will be used to buy vehicles and equipment. Additionally, Rs 3.50 crore will be used for quick response vehicles to be stationed across six regional offices. To bolster operational capabilities, Rs 13.44 crore has been allocated to recruit 375 personnel.

A state F&ES headquarters and a state-of-the-art control and command centre is in the works, too.

"This is the highest-ever budget for fire safety, with additional Rs 339 crore from the 15th Finance Commission and Rs 462 crore from the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) to establish emergency response centres," said a senior urban development department official.