First-ever retrofitting work on Tejgaon fire station begins

A systematic retrofitting work to make Tejgaon Fire Station building an earthquake resistant one has started for the first time in the country.

Retrofitting is a technology that could be used to make a vulnerable building earthquake resistant without demolishing it and usually it costs 30 to 40 per cent of the new construction cost of the targeted building, reports UNB.

Local engineers with support from Japanese experts have started working to retrofit the fire station to turn the important public building into an earthquake resistant structure within a few months.

The initiative was taken under 'The project for Capacity Development on Natural Disaster Resistant Techniques of Construction and Retrofitting for Public Buildings (CNCRP).' Public Works Department (PWD) will implement it with technical support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

"Japan, one of the most tremor-prone countries, is the master of using retrofitting technology, and considering the vulnerability of Bangladesh to earthquake, retrofitting technology is being transferred from Japan to Bangladesh under CNCRP project," Additional Chief Engineer, PWD and Project Director of CNCRP Abdul Malek Sikder said.