CM C. Joseph Vijay Inaugurates New Odugathur Fire Station

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay virtually inaugurated the new Odugathur fire station in Vellore district on Wednesday. The building, constructed on a 2.5‑acre plot by the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation Limited, cost ₹1.35 crore. It replaces a temporary station that operated from the Government Veterinary Clinic for nearly three decades. Collector P.S. Leela Alex inspected the premises together with District Fire Officer S. Vadivel. Station Fire Officer P. Baskar said the permanent facility fulfills a long‑standing demand and offers modern amenities and ample space for a fire tender. The two‑storey structure includes officers’ quarters, six rooms for senior firefighters, a large training ground, and a 40‑foot deep farm well. Two overhead tanks on the terrace hold 50,000 litres of water each. The fire office serves at least 60 tribal villages around the foothills of the Jawadhu Hills. A proposal for a permanent building was sent to the state government more than twenty years ago; the administrative order came in 2011, tenders were floated in 2022 and construction began in 2023. The station sits in Odugathur town at the foothills of the Jawadhu Hills, a region prone to forest fires. ## Context The new station addresses long‑standing space shortages for fire services in remote tribal areas and adds water‑storage capacity crucial for rapid response in hilly terrain.