New Delhi, March 24 The Delhi government allocated ₹674 crore to the fire department in its budget for 2026–27, up from ₹530 crore in the current fiscal, with a focus on strengthening infrastructure and upgrading machinery to tackle frequent fire incidents.
Presenting the budget for 2026-27, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta allocated ₹50 crore for the construction of new fire stations at various locations in the national capital.
Citing the recent Palam incident, where nine people, including three children, lost their lives after a massive fire broke out in a four-storey building, Gupta said narrow lanes and congested unauthorized colonies make it difficult to extinguish fires.
Highlighting the recurring incidents of fire accidents in the national capital, she said such tragedies often leave entire families devastated.
Delhi's firefighting infrastructure will be strengthened with an allocation of ₹674 crore, she said.
"The challenge of controlling fires becomes significantly more difficult in areas with narrow lanes, single-entry households, congested jhuggi clusters and unauthorized colonies," she said.
Gupta said that modernizing the fire services is essential to make Delhi a safer city, especially given the complexities of urban density and unplanned settlements.
During 2025–26, authorities undertook several measures in this direction, including the induction of 24 Quick Response Vehicles (QRVs) and the deployment of advanced machinery in the fire department.
Building on these efforts, the proposed budget for 2026–27 includes provisions for setting up new fire stations, procurement of 26 additional QRVs, and induction of modern equipment and cutting-edge technology.
"The move is aimed at improving response time, enhancing firefighting capabilities and ensuring better safety for residents across the capital," she added.