T’puram: Even as Vizhinjam International Seaport gears up for expanded cargo operations, Kerala’s largest transshipment port continues to depend on a 37-year-old fire station functioning from a harbour engineering department building, underscoring the need for a modern emergency response system.To bridge the gap, the state fire and rescue services department has drawn up plans for a new multi-storey fire station with an estimated outlay of Rs 10 crore. The proposed facility will come up on a 40-cent plot adjacent to the existing station at Vizhinjam. Officials said the project design has been finalised and construction is expected to begin this year after statutory and technical clearances are completed.The first phase of the project will comprise a two-storey building, while a third floor dedicated to training activities will be added in the second phase. The complex will also include guest rooms and improved operational facilities for firefighters.“The proposed station is being designed as a model coastal fire station with modern infrastructure and advanced rescue equipment. Given Vizhinjam’s strategic importance as an international seaport, the station will be equipped to meet emerging operational requirements,” a senior fire and rescue services official said.Officials said the department also plans to deploy additional firefighting vehicles and specialised life-saving equipment to strengthen emergency response along the coast.The existing Vizhinjam fire station was established in 1989. It caters to a coastal jurisdiction extending over 15km and responds to emergencies at the international seaport. On average, the station receives more than two emergency calls every day, according to officials.A separate state-of-the-art fire station is also being planned inside the Vizhinjam International Seaport once full-fledged Exim cargo operations commence.“Discussions on setting up a dedicated fire station inside the port are progressing. It will have specialised firefighting systems, vehicles and equipment required for an international port handling cargo operations,” a senior official associated with the port project said.Officials said the proposed facilities are expected to significantly enhance emergency preparedness as port activities expand and cargo traffic increases in the coming years.
