While Mumbai city and its suburbs remain the only districts yet to complete the installation of war sirens distributed by the Civil Defence Department in May this year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has asked the state’s Disaster Management Department to provide funds for their installation, testing, commissioning, and maintenance. The sirens were distributed nationwide as part of safety drills conducted after Operation Sindoor.
Of the 59 sirens allotted to Mumbai, barely 10 per cent have been installed or are in the process of being set up, while the rest lie unused. As per norms, the sirens must be located on government-owned premises to ensure round-the-clock access and the feasibility of long-term maintenance.
In May, Mumbai received 60 sirens out of the 142 procured for the six coastal districts of Maharashtra. Of these, 59 were handed to the BMC, while one was installed at the Home Guards headquarters in Colaba. The other districts — Palghar, Raigad, Thane, Nashik, Sindhudurg, and Ratnagiri — have already completed installation, placing the sirens at tehsildar offices, municipal corporation offices in Thane, Mira Bhayandar, and Bhiwandi, and at local fire brigade headquarters. Mumbai remains the only outlier.
Distribution details
Three priority areas were identified first: Tarapur in Palghar (17 sirens), Uran in Raigad (10 sirens), and Mumbai (59 sirens), due to their sensitivity. “Mumbai has BARC at Chembur, Tarapur has the Atomic Power Station, and Uran is a major port. Other coastal districts received between 10 and 15 sirens each,” an official said.
Each district collector was tasked with identifying sensitive locations such as high-density areas, administrative hubs, and high-footfall zones. Cities like Thane, Badlapur, Ambernath, Mira Bhayandar, and Bhiwandi have already confirmed installations.
The hurdle in Mumbai
A senior civic official, on condition of anonymity, said, “The installation cost was unforeseen. Significant expenses are involved — civil and electrical works, constructing rooftop bases, wiring for ground-level alarm switches, and protective coverings for sirens. The BMC’s Mechanical and Electrical Department floated a tender and realised the cost exceeds Rs 70 lakh for installation and commissioning, excluding annual maintenance.”
In June, BMC wrote to the Disaster Management Department requesting funds, but received no response. This week, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani directed officials to follow up with the state government. “The procurement process was handled by the Civil Defence Department and funded by the Disaster Management Department. If BMC carries out installation, it poses two challenges: if a siren is damaged, BMC has no way of going back to the original supplier for a replacement; and the annual maintenance costs will fall on the corporation,” another senior civic official said.
Sharad Ughade, deputy municipal commissioner, confirmed, “The municipal commissioner has endorsed the file and asked us to follow up with the DM&R Department for funds.” A senior Disaster Management Department official said, “The proposal with BMC’s request for funds has been forwarded to the chief secretary for approval. If approved, it will be placed before the state executive committee.” Another official added, “As per procedure, BMC should have written to the Home Department, which handled procurement. The Disaster Management Department only cleared bills raised by the Home Department.”
Locations in Mumbai
Sites selected for installation include the BMC headquarters in Fort, ward offices in South Mumbai, Borivli, Mulund, Powai, and Chembur, as well as public areas like Cross Maidan near Churchgate.
What are war sirens?
>> War sirens are civil defence tools meant to alert the public during wartime, disasters, or major emergencies. They emit powerful sounds audible over distances of 3.5 to 11 km.
>> Mumbai originally had 270 sirens installed during the 1962 Indo-China and 1971 Indo-Pak wars. Only 126 remain.
Trials after installation
A senior official involved in the original procurement said, “We have received confirmation from all districts that installations are complete, and we have written to BMC for an update.” The Civil Defence Department plans to conduct statewide trials once Mumbai finishes installation. “The drill will require sirens to be sounded. As citizens start hearing them, planning is needed to ensure clarity. The trial will be scheduled on a Sunday,” the official said.
