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.