SPG creates special fire escape route for PM in Parl

Taking a cue from the Mantralaya fire in Mumbai, the authorities have taken several steps to secure the 92-year old Parliament House building from such an untoward incident.

The Special Protection Group has made a special escape route for the prime minister in Parliament House. At the same time, a special gate is being readied for Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani, since they also come under the higher security category.

The SPG has ordered that all LPG cylinders to be removed from the first floor canteen in the main building, following an inspection by Lok Sabha complex by Lok Sabha Secretary General TK Vishwanathan. The LPG cylinders are being replaced with piped PNG gas.

Vishwanathan issued directions for the fire safety measures, and held a meeting with the senior officers looking after the maintenance of the Parliament House, as well as other allied agencies. He has issued a seven-point protocol for fire safety:

• All unused furniture and literature to be removed.
• All escape routes and blockages from the staircases to be removed.
• All branches and allied agencies ordered to switch off lights, fans, ACs, TVs, computers, etc, before leaving the premises.
• Shifting of the canteen from the main building.
• Smoking is already banned in the Parliament House complex.