Chief Minister virtually inaugurates Odugathur Fire Station in Vellore

The new building was constructed at a cost of ₹ 1.35 crore. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay practically inaugurated the fire station in Odugathur town at the foothills of Jawadhu Hills on Wednesday.

Fire and Rescue Department officials said the fire station operated on the grounds of the Government Veterinary Clinic in the city for nearly three decades before the building opened.

Collector PS Leela Alex inspected the building of the new fire station in the presence of S. Vadivela, District Fire Officer. “A permanent building for the fire station has been a long-standing demand. The new building has modern facilities and huge space to accommodate vehicles, including a fire engine,” P. Baskar, station fire officer, Odugathur, told The Hindu.

The new building, divided into officers’ quarters and a fire station, was constructed at a cost of ₹ 1.35 crore on a 2.5-acre plot by the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation Limited with a large training ground for firemen. It contains six rooms for fire chiefs. Two large above-ground tanks on its terrace have a capacity of 50,000 liters of water each. The new facility also has a 40-foot-deep farm well to pump water into these tanks.

Officials said a proposal to construct a permanent building was sent to the state government more than two decades ago. However, the administrative order for the new building was not issued until 2011. Tenders for the works were issued in 2022. The works started the following year.

The Odugathur Fire Authority looks after at least 60 tribal villages in the region.

Published – 05 Nov 2026 0:56 IST