Kolkata: The state fire and emergency services department, in consultation with Kolkata Police and Bengal Police, is setting up green corridors for fire tenders in Kolkata with an eye on faster response in Kolkata and its adjacent police commissionerates.

The thrust will be on greater coordination — using a single SOS system — so that roads can be cleared for big tender trucks to make their way from any part of the city, said sources."We will introduce dedicated green corridors for fire tenders and an integrated control room with stress on managing fire incidents in slum areas," said fire and emergency services dept minister Sujit Bose. Officials said that the concept is being considered for Kolkata, Bidhannagar, Barrackpore, and areas under Howrah Commissionerate.Only last week, 700 shops at Orphanganj market at Kidderpore were gutted in a post-midnight fire. This April, 14 people were killed in a hotel fire at Macchua in central Kolkata.According to fire dept officials, one of the biggest hurdles for firefighters to reach a spot quickly is the lack of adequate road space through which a fire tender can move freely. "Often it is alleged that fire tenders reach a spot late. It is often found that the entrance leading to the spot is so narrow that fire tenders find it difficult to reach the place on time," said an official.

Officials said that under the new system, an emergency call to the fire department control room would also simultaneously reach the police control room. This will enable cops to immediately work on creating a green corridor for fire tenders. The fire tenders will have GPS trackers installed so that the control room can have real-time location tracking.Kolkata Police said temporary green corridors were in operation ever since the fire broke out at AMRI but communication challenges remained.

"Preferential access is given to fire tenders trying to quickly reach a spot. We inform all guards and men on route about the approaching fire engines. An additional GPS tracking will help us identify the exact location where we need to help fire tenders move freely. But more importantly, we need to know the routes the drivers wish to take.

Talks are on to create a unified command during big fires," said a DCP.The fire dept and police will also conduct a survey of roads through which fire tenders can move fast in case of a blaze. The fire department is also working on identifying land to set up 25 new fire stations across the state. It will also procure new fire tenders and firefighting equipment.