Since 2016, the civic body has approved 44 proposals for high-rise structures, covering 74 towers
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced plans to acquire five new firefighting vehicles to enhance safety measures at high-rise buildings. These vehicles will be stationed in areas with a significant concentration of tall structures to ensure swift response in case of fire emergencies.
Although the PMC has granted permission for the construction of high-rises in recent years, the fire department continues to face challenges in ensuring regular maintenance of firefighting systems within these buildings. According to the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, it is the responsibility of building owners or occupiers to maintain fire safety equipment. Once a building receives a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department, the owner must conduct bi-annual audits and submit reports to verify that the firefighting systems are functional.
Since 2016, the civic body has approved 44 proposals for high-rise structures, covering 74 towers. Among these, 42 towers exceed 100 meters in height. The latest approval, sanctioned in January 2024 by the PMC’s high-rise committee, chaired by municipal commissioner Vikram Kumar, is for a 160.45-meter building in Bopodi. The structure, with 42 habitable floors (excluding parking), will be the tallest building in Pune upon completion.
The majority of high-rises in Pune are concentrated in Kharadi, Wadgaonsheri, Baner, and Balewadi—areas known for hosting a large number of IT companies. Fire brigade officials have identified the height of these buildings and wind speeds as key challenges when combating fires in such structures.
Prabhakar Umratkar, a senior official from the fire department, stated, “Each vehicle will cost around ₹2.15 crore. A tender has been issued for the purchase, and the vehicles will be stationed at locations such as Baner, Wanowrie, Aundh, Kharadi, and central parts of the city.” Currently, the city operates three Bronto vehicles designed for firefighting and rescue operations in high-rise buildings. At present, Pune’s tallest building is a 90-meter-high commercial complex located in Pashan.
In the last three years, two fire incidents have been reported in high-rise buildings—one at Amanora City (eight floors) and another on the 11th floor of a building in the Mohammadwadi area. Fortunately, the incidents were contained with minimal damage.
With the growing number of high-rises, the addition of these firefighting vehicles will help strengthen Pune’s ability to respond to fire emergencies and ensure the safety of residents and workers in these structures.
