Nearly a decade after its last major upgrade, the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) is finally set to boost its firefighting capacity with two new hydraulic platforms (snorkels) of 104 metres and above.

The BMC has invited tenders for the new equipment, aimed at strengthening emergency response in Mumbai’s increasingly vertical landscape. The existing 90-metre snorkel can reach up to 30 floors. A senior fire official said the new platforms are expected to extend access up to 34 floors.

High-Rises Rising Faster Than Fire Safety

According to the BMC, any building above 30 metres (around nine floors) is classified as a high-rise. Many towers in Mumbai now rise up to 40 floors, making firefighting and rescue operations more complex.

Inspections in recent years have found that several high-rises ha

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