Delhi to get first radiation-shielded underground command centre for nuclear emergencies
A tender has been floated for the project, inviting bids for the construction of the new DFS headquarters.
India's capital, Delhi, is set to get its first underground Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) command centre as part of the new headquarters of the Delhi Fire Services (DFS), in a move aimed at strengthening the city's preparedness for nuclear emergencies, chemical disasters and other large-scale crises.
A tender has been floated for the project, inviting bids for the construction of the new DFS headquarters and the specialised emergency response facility for the city of more than 2 crore people.
The proposed headquarters will include a plug-and-play underground CBRN command centre designed to remain operational during nuclear warfare, radiological leaks and chemical disasters, Chief Fire Officer Abhilash Malik told PTI.
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The facility will be built at the site of the existing DFS headquarters and is expected to be completed within five years, Malik said.
According to him, the command centre will be specially engineered to shield personnel from nuclear radiation while ensuring uninterrupted coordination among multiple agencies during emergencies.
"This will be the first such CBRN command centre in the national capital. It is being designed in a way that radiation will not affect personnel inside, enabling effective command and coordination during critical situations," Malik said.
During disasters, the command centre will coordinate operations at Delhi's three existing disaster centres in Nehru Place, Laxmi Nagar and Rohini, while also directing the DFS Search and Rescue Battalion, he added.
