Minister lays foundation stone for fire station in Hoshiarpur

Local Bodies Minister Dr Ravjot Singh on Sunday laid the foundation stone for a fire station to be constructed near the Municipal Corporation’s cowshed close to Bhangi Choe, in the presence of MLA Bram Shankar Jimpa.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Ravjot Singh said the Punjab government is committed to accelerating urban development and in line with this vision, a modern fire station equipped with updated facilities is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 2.90 crore. The project will come up on 2 acres of Municipal Corporation land and is expected to be completed within a year.

He added that once operational, the existing fire station on Railway Road will be shifted to the new site. The new location on the city’s outskirts is expected to ease traffic congestion for fire brigade vehicles during emergencies and ensure quicker response times. At present, the long travel distance from the old station to outer areas often delays rescue and relief operations.

MLA Bram Shankar Jimpa described the project as crucial for Hoshiarpur, stating that the Punjab government is working tirelessly to improve the city’s development, security and public amenities. He said the upcoming fire station will significantly strengthen the city’s disaster management system and extend faster fire services to nearby rural regions. He thanked the Local Bodies Minister and noted that the project meets a long-standing public demand.

Mayor Surinder Kumar, Chairman of the Municipal Improvement Trust Hoshiarpur Gurbinder Singh Pabala, Chairman of the Market Committee Hoshiarpur Jaspal Singh Chechi, Senior Deputy Mayor Praveen Saini, Deputy Mayor Ranjit Chaudhary, councillors, and Municipal Corporation officials were also present on the occasion.

Outsourced firefighters submit memo to minister

Led by ADFO Shahbaz Singh, the outsourced firefighters of Hoshiarpur presented a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to Local Bodies Minister Dr Ravjot Singh, urging the regularisation of services of outsourced firefighters in Punjab. MLA Bramshankar Jimpa was also present on the occasion.

In the memorandum, the workers highlighted that outsourced firefighters have been serving in the fire department for the past 15 years, yet no policy has been formulated to regularise their employment. They stated that this has compelled them to protest, as their demands remain unheard.

They requested that Chief Minister Mann ensure justice for these employees by formulating a policy for outsourced staff and integrating them into regular recruitment. They emphasised that while regular recruitment of firemen and drivers has been undertaken in Punjab, more action is needed so that outsourced employees can support their families while performing their duties diligently.

The memorandum submission was attended by Chairman Praveen Kumar, Pradhan Raman, Pawan Kumar Saini, Ishwar, Ravi Kumar, Driver Baljeet Singh, Amit Prakash and other officials.