Fire service still using 1969 era communication network

New Delhi: Delhi govt has flagged serious shortcomings in the communication network of Delhi Fire Service (DFS), revealing that the department continues to operate on a wireless communication architecture introduced more than five decades ago for a city with just 17 fire stations, even though the capital has expanded to 71 stations and a vastly larger urban landscape.The gaps were highlighted during an internal review meeting chaired by Delhi home minister Ashish Sood following the recent Hauz Rani fire, which claimed 21 lives. During the meeting, officials assessed the preparedness of the fire service and the effectiveness of its communication systems, with Sood saying the existing network could no longer meet present-day operational requirements.According to official documents, DFS introduced its wireless communication system in 1969 using two Very High Frequency (VHF) frequencies — 148.525 MHz and 148.725 MHz — along with GM 300 and GP 328 wireless sets.“Since then, no revamp or upgrade of the wireless frequencies and communication system has been carried out. However, the wireless sets were upgraded from time to time and, currently, Delhi Fire Service is using Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) sets,” the document stated.Officials said the system has failed to keep pace with Delhi’s rapid growth. While the number of fire stations has increased over four-fold, the city has also seen a sharp rise in high-rise buildings, dense urban clusters, underground spaces and large commercial complexes.The review found that the existing network has exceeded its intended capacity. It noted that VHF communication relies heavily on line of sight, meaning radio signals work best when there is a clear path between transmission points. In a dense urban environment, buildings and underground structures can obstruct signals and create coverage gaps, affecting communication between the fire control room, fire stations, field units and firefighters at incident sites.Officials said these shortcomings can hamper emergency response, a concern that has become more significant as Delhi continues to record dozens of fire-related deaths every year.Delhi Fire Service data shows that 100 people died and 843 were injured in 2019-20. Fatalities fell to 41 in 2020-21 and 55 in 2021-22 before rising to 95 in 2022-23. The toll stood at 77 in 2023-24, 90 in 2024-25 and 84 in 2025-26.“We have done the tender (for the revamp) and the best technology will be used for saving the lives of people of Delhi,” Sood said.“The city has grown many times over in the past decades. New areas came up, population increased and large-scale construction happened, but modernisation of the fire department did not keep pace,” he said.The proposed modernisation plan includes enhanced communications, real-time operational monitoring and intelligent dispatch systems.The new system will integrate GPS, GIS and surveillance cameras, enabling real-time tracking of fire tenders and automatic dispatch of the nearest available unit. It will also analyse traffic conditions to improve routing and deployment during emergencies.Officials said the upgraded network will provide seamless communication between all stakeholders, continuous monitoring of fire safety equipment and a high-frequency communication channel designed to function in high-rises and underground basements, even during localised blackouts.