Kolkata: All stalls at the upcoming International Kolkata Book Fair at the Salt Lake Central Park fairground will be provided with fire extinguishers to tackle any situation in case of a fire exigency, along with a strengthened fire-fighting system. The Publishers and Booksellers Guild, along with all stakeholders, including the Bidhannagar police, held a coordination meeting and inspected the fairground on Tuesday to take stock of the ground infrastructure and preparations ahead of IKBF 2026, which is to start from Jan 22.
Bidhannagar Police commissioner Mukesh said, "There will be comprehensive police arrangements with CCTV surveillance. The fire department will keep a few fire tenders inside the fairground, and fire extinguishers will be provided to all the book stalls. Minimum training will be provided to those who will be at the stalls so that they can use the fire extinguishers in case of any emergency."Guild officials said that while the large stalls will get a fire extinguisher of their own, there will be one fire extinguisher for every two smaller stalls. "The registered vendor of the fire department will supply the extinguishers," said guild general secretary Tridib Chatterjee.