For decades, visitors to Connaught Place have seen the light grey building of the Delhi Fire Service standing just beyond the Super Bazar bus stand, seemingly unchanged. In the relentless noise of CP, its façade appears almost sleepy. Fire engines are always parked there, a constant presence. The stillness is broken only when sirens announce another emergency and the engines race out. But this iconic building, the first fire station built in 1942, is soon to be redeveloped—marking the end of an era.
A strategically vital institution
The Connaught Place Fire Station is more than just a building; it’s a vital institution, safeguarding the heart of the city from fire.
“Located in the bustling commercial and business district, it’s strategically positioned for rapid response in a densely populated, high-traffic area. It serves not only Connaught Place but also a wide surrounding area, including key government buildings, residential neighbour hoods, and transportation hubs,” explains RK Sinha, an expert on fire safety and security.
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Echoes of the past
Some say Delhi had a fire service even before it became the capital in 1911, though relics of that era are scarce. Old-timers recall that after the Connaught Place station, two more were established at Chanakyapuri and Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Road.
Even with over five dozen fire stations in the capital today, the Connaught Place station often leads the charge during major fire incidents. Its strategic location means engines from here are frequently deployed.
“I remember the major fires at Gopala Towers in Rajendra Place (1987), Uphaar Cinema (1997), and Kirti Nagar (early 2000s); brave fire fighters from Connaught Place reached the scene within 30 minutes of the call,” recalls S Ashok, a former station officer at the Bhikaji Cama Place fire station.
Landmark location
The Connaught Place Fire Station plays a vital role in safeguarding high-rise buildings, heritage structures, and densely populated areas. It frequently responds to incidents in restaurants, hotels, and offices, which are prone to fire hazards due to electrical faults, LPG leaks, or kitchen-related issues.
Situated close to landmarks like Parliament House and the Barakhamba Road Metro Station, it is strategically positioned to respond to emergencies. The station serves as a critical response unit for fire and rescue operations in the New Delhi Fire Zone, encompassing the East and Central Divisions. It is an integral part of the Delhi Fire Service network across the National Capital Territory.
Major fires in recent decades
Recalling major fire incidents in Delhi, Sinha says the city has unfor tunately experienced several devastating blazes over the years.
“The Mundka fire (May 2022) was particularly devastating,” he says. “A massive fire broke out in a commercial building in Mundka, primarily housing manufacturing units, resulting in at least 27 deaths and many injuries.”
He notes that the building lacked proper fire safety clearances and equipment, which highlighted “serious regulatory failures” and drew attention to “illegal factories and inadequate fire safety enforcement.”
Sinha also points to the Filmistan fire (December 2019), calling it “another significant fire in a factory,” which again brought to light “unsafe working conditions and illegal industrial units in densely populated areas.”
“And who can forget the Uphaar Cinema fire (June 1997)?” he says. “One of Delhi’s most tragic, it killed 59 people and injured over 100. The fire, caused by a faulty transformer, exposed issues of negligence, corruption, and building safety standards.”
The Connaught Place fire station in action
Returning to the Connaught Place fire station, it has been continuously responding to fires in its vicinity. For instance, on March 13, when a fire broke out at Bikkgane Biryani restaurant in P Block, fire engines arrived within minutes and extinguished the blaze. Caused by a suspected LPG leak, it injured six people, and six fire tenders brought it under control.
On February 24, a kitchen chimney fire at Imperial Spice restaurant in M Block was extinguished using four fire tenders, with no injuries. On June 9, 2024, a fire at M Block, Outer Circle—caused by a short circuit in an air conditioner—was managed with five fire tenders, averting a major incident during high footfall.
Thus, the station continues to douse both small and major fire incidents with diligence and speed.
A neighbour’s perspective
Radhey Shyam Gupta, who ran a food joint at Super Bazar for years, recalls, “As a neighbour of the Connaught Place fire station, I often saw fire tenders on high alert during Diwali. There are many flats behind the building for the staff.”
“The Delhi Fire Service Headquarters is also located there. It’s naturally a very important station in Delhi.”
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Challenges and the future
Connaught Place’s notorious traffic congestion poses a significant challenge to timely response. Firefighters often struggle to navigate grid locked streets, delaying their arrival.
“One hopes the Delhi Traffic Police can find ways to ensure the smooth and swift movement of fire engines from the Connaught Place fire station to reach the scene to quell the blaze,” added Ashok.
The writer is a Delhi-based senior journalist and author of two books ‘Gandhi’s Delhi: April 12, 1915-January 30, 1948 and Beyond’ and ‘Dilli Ka Pehla Pyar – Connaught Place”
