West Bengal Approves New Fire Stations for Gorubathan and Sukhiapokhari Blocks

KalimNews,November 18, 2025, Kalimpong :  New Fire Brigade Stations to be set up at Gorubathan and Sukhiapokhari blocks. These two areas are away from the surrounding Fire stations, SukhiaPokhari’s nearest Fire station is Darjeeling which is about 18 km and nearest Firestation of Gorubathan is Mal Bazar Fire station which is about proposed Fire stations covers a big area of the block area. Gorubathan alone has Gorubathan Block has 11 gram Panchayats of which 5 falls under this Fire Brigade which starts from Gorubathan Mal Busty to Samabeong near Lava. Sukhiapokhari block has 16 Gram Panchayats out of which 14 falls under this fire brigade station.

The state administration has granted formal approval for the construction of new fire stations in Gorubathan of Kalimpong district and Sukhiapokhari of Darjeeling district, recognizing the long-standing demand for improved fire and emergency response services in these remote and high-risk regions. Both locations have been functioning without adequate proximity to existing fire services, resulting in delayed response times during emergencies. The newly proposed fire stations are expected to significantly enhance response capacity in geographically difficult areas where timely intervention is critical.

According to the official statement shared by Anit Thapa, Chief Executive of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), the demand for establishing fire services in Gorubathan and Sukhiapokhari had been formally submitted to the state government several months earlier, along with detailed project plans. Land identification for both locations had also been initiated. Thapa stated that the Fire and Emergency Services Department of the West Bengal government has now issued the administrative order approving the projects, and he expressed gratitude to the state government for acting on this vital requirement for the hill region.

The West Bengal government has sanctioned the construction of two modern pump fire stations, one in each of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts, granting both administrative and financial approval. Under the approved plan, the fire station at Gorubathan has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹4,85,01,277 (four crore eighty-five lakh one thousand two hundred seventy-seven), covering civil and electrical works. The fire station in Sukhiapokhari has been sanctioned at ₹5,60,19,057 (five crore sixty lakh nineteen thousand fifty-seven).

As per the financial structure, ₹3 crore from each project will be funded under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), through the “Fire Services Expansion & Modernization” scheme for the financial year 2025–26. The remaining amount will come from the Capital Outlay on Public Works, designated for infrastructure development.

Once the tendering process and agency selection are completed, the allocated funds will be released through the Chief Finance Controller, GTA, under DDO Code DAAHAB053. The decision aligns with the recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission and the national fire services modernization programme, with a vision to strengthen disaster preparedness, improve structural resilience, and enhance emergency response capacities across both districts. Relevant departments have been directed to implement and comply with the approved plan.

The approval marks a major milestone for residents of Gorubathan, Sukhiapokhari, and adjoining gram panchayats, as the upcoming fire stations are expected to substantially improve emergency management and ensure quicker response in fire-related incidents across the region.