Amitava Banerjee, MP, 2 Aug 2024, Darjeeling: The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) area will soon have four new fire stations to enhance fire safety in the region. Two stations will be established in the Kalimpong district at Algarah and Gorubathan, while the remaining two will be located in the Darjeeling district at Sonada and Sukhipokhari. All four stations will be equipped with two pumps each.
“The process for the Sukhipokhari fire station is nearly complete, with land identified on Pokhriabong Road under the Darjeeling Improvement (DI) Fund,” said Rajesh Chauhan, Deputy Chairman of GTA. The Special Secretary of Fire and Emergency Services, Government of West Bengal, has inspected and approved the site. The Detailed Project Report has been sent to the government, and the land transfer process is ongoing. Suitable plots have also been identified for, fire stations in Algarah, Gorubathan, and Sonada.
A team visited the proposed Sonada location, which is government land on National Highway 110. This new station will serve the Jorebunglow and Sukhipokhari police station areas, reducing response times currently hampered by NH110’s traffic congestion. In Gorubathan, land has been selected in a tea garden, pending a No Objection Certificate from the tea estate.
This development marks a significant step forward in improving fire safety infrastructure in the GTA region.