PWD to install fire safety devices in 158 govt hospitals

This development has come almost two years after the Madras High Court gave a direction to the State government to strengthen the fire safety measures in government hospitals.

Under this project, the hospitals including Stanley Medical College and National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis at Chetpet, will be equipped with fire hydrants and ramps as part of safety and precautionary measures.

Along with this, a smoke detection fire alarm will be installed at the basement of the Tower I and Tower II of Rajiv Gandhi Government General hospital at the cost of Rs 5.36 lakh and Rs 4.97 lakh respectively. Also, both the towers will be equipped with ‘analog addressable smoke detector at the cost of Rs 8.46 lakh.

A top official attached to the PWD (Buildings) said, “The fire safety mechanism is non-existent at various hospitals and hence as per this project, we are installing new technologies to combat any emergency situations. The analog device will raise an alarm upon detection of slight smoke in the building. This analog device will be installed in all the floors in Tower II. This ongoing project at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General hospital is expected to be completed before February end.”

The Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children will receive fire hydrants and fire fighting arrangements at the cost of Rs 4.1 Crore. While bids are invited to commence the works at the government hospitals in Vellore, Chengalpattu and Kanchipuram, the official added.

In a separate project, the PWD is set to install fire safety arrangements at the Government Medical College and Hospitals at the cost of Rs 34 Crore.

The project will be undertaken at 31 places across eight districts which includes Sivaganga, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tanjore, Tiruvarur, Tiruchy, Pudukottai and Chennai.

As part of this project, work is under progress at Kilpauk Medical College at the estimated cost of Rs 2.73 Crores.

“The whole project is expected to be completed before this year end,” an officialadded.