In a significant step that will go a long way in bolstering
infrastructure in newly added areas of the Chennai Corporation, Chief
Minister Jayalalithaa announced in the State Assembly on Tuesday that
new Fire and Rescue Services Stations would be set up in Thoraipakkam,
Virugambakkam, Madhavaram and Maduravoyal besides Velachery.

Explaining
that the expansion of the Corporation had brought in densely populated
urban localities into the fold of the city civic body, Jayalalithaa said
the five new stations would come up at a cost of Rs 3.70 crore.
Residents in newly included areas like Madipakkam told City Express that
the move would be a boon to them.

T K Ravichandran, a resident of
Madipakkam recalled a fire accident in Velachery on May 17, 2012. “A
huge fire broke out in the backyard generator facility of a BPO company
in Velachery, near the MRTS Railway Station. Although fire tenders were
rushed quickly, it would have been better had a fire station been there
in the locality itself,” he said.

Several other residents like S
Mallika said a fire station in Velachery would be of use to
neighbourboods nearby. “Madipakkam, Pallikaranai, Keelkattalai,
Adambakkam and Mayilai Balaji Nagar would be among the localities that
will be benefited,” she pointed out. The facility will especially be of
use during the Deepavali festival when fire mishaps are often reported.

V
Hari, an employee of a corrugated box factory in Maduravoyal said the
announcement was timely. “Maduravoyal is no more a sleepy little
residential neighbourhood. With more and more industries and commercial
enterprises setting up shop here, the facility would be of immense use,”
he said.  Chennai already has 25 fire stations. In suburban areas,
there are eight fire stations including Athipattu, Ennore, Tiruvottiyur
and Poonamallee. The new facility will help improve infrastructure in
the expanded areas of the Corporation, residents hope.