Chitrakoot studio Fire during Ranbir Kapoor movie shoot two years ago | File image
Despite repeated attempts the BMC has failed to take hold of Chitrakoot ground and banquets located in Andheri West, the plot which is reserved for Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) under Development Plan 2034. The MFB’s Ambivali fire station is designated to come up on said plot, which has been in possession of M/s Shah Constructions which organises private events like weddings. The plot is around 5000 sq ft big.
Deputy Fire officer of MFB Harish Shetty under whom the area falls said, “In the last two years, we have been making repeated requests to the K-West ward office of the BMC and the contractor too, however the plot is still not vacated. The contractor does not respond to notices. He was given permission to run his business on the said plot for only six months.”
“Having a full-fledged fire station in Andheri West is the need of the hour considering the congestion and high-rises the area has. We need to deploy fire brigades from Vile Parle, Goregaon and Bandra, which consumes time to reach the spot during traffic hours and precious time is lost,” the officer added.
The MFB has a small fire station next to Chitrakoot ground, however it can accommodate not more than one or two fire engines. The existing station suffices to fight minor fires, however, in case of major fire incidents the MFB deployes fire engines from other fire stations in the western suburbs.
An officer from MFB also said that we asked the K-West ward office to disconnect the water and electricity supply for Chitrakoot ground and banquets which will force the user to handover the land to BMC.
The plot is also used for film shootings, and notably, the studio on the ground had caught massive fire during shooting of a Ranbir Kapoor and Shraddha Kapoor’s movie in 2022, in which one person has lost his life. While, recently there was a massive fire in a high-rise in Andheri West, in which a senior citizen lost his life.
In a January 2, 2024 letter by K-West ward’s Executive Engineer (Building Proposal) to M/s Shah Constructions regarding handing over of the said plot (CTS No 844/13) to the Fire Brigade department says that the owner was earlier requested to submit clarification, however, there was no reply recieved till date. The letter mentions the issue as Top Priority and Most Urgent.
However, till today the plot is not been handed over to the BMC and private events continue to be organised at Chitrakoot ground.
Commenting over the matter, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Vishwas Shankarrao said that the land is owned by the Collector and the Building Proposal department of the BMC is following up with the Collector office to handover the plot to Fire Department.
Notably, the issue was brought by the local MLA Ameer Satam in the ongoing state assembly session, where he said that encroachments on the plot will be removed soon to start a fire station.
