Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): The operational capability of fire and rescue operations across Haryana is set to receive a significant upgrade following a strategic procurement directive by the provincial administration. Presiding over a departmental High-Powered Purchase Committee meeting in Chandigarh, Haryana Revenue, Disaster Management, and Urban Local Bodies Minister Vipul Goel formally approved the acquisition of 26 specialized emergency vehicles. The deployment plan aims to distribute these units strategically across various municipal zones to drastically cut down emergency response times and improve the efficacy of rescue operations during industrial, commercial, or domestic fire incidents.
The high-level administrative meeting was attended by Haryana Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda and Additional Chief Secretary Dr. Sumita Mishra. The committee cleared a total expenditure of 2 crore 91 lakh 71 thousand rupees for the immediate procurement phase. The manufacturing and supply partners have been instructed to ensure the comprehensive delivery of the fleet to the fire services department within a strict two-month timeline to avoid any logistical delays heading into high-demand seasons.
According to departmental specifications tabled during the session, the upcoming fleet expansion is highly specialized and does not rely on standard pumper trucks alone. The procurement breakdown features multi-terrain utility vehicles for swift navigation in congested urban spaces, heavy-duty recovery vans to clear debris during structural collapses, and state-of-the-art command and control vehicles designed to serve as mobile communication hubs during major disaster management operations.
The strategic session concluded with directives for immediate fund allocation and quality compliance checks. Key administrative stakeholders involved in finalizing the technical tenders included Director General of Fire Services Shekhar Vidyarthi, Special Secretary of the Finance Department Captain Manoj Kumar, alongside senior procurement officials from the Directorate of Supplies and Disposals.
