The Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has allocated ₹178 crores for a major upgrade of the state’s Emergency Response Support System (ERSS), commonly known as Dial 112. This initiative aims to reduce the emergency response time from the current 25 minutes to just 8 minutes, setting a new national benchmark in rapid response services. The comprehensive overhaul includes integrating key emergency departments—Police, Health, Fire, and Disaster Management—into a unified emergency response network to ensure seamless coordination.
As part of the ‘Badalda Punjab’ Budget for the financial year 2025-26, the Punjab Government has allocated ₹125 crores for expanding the Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) fleet and upgrading district control rooms. An additional ₹53 crores has been set aside for the construction of a state-of-the-art Dial 112 headquarters.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, chaired a high-level meeting of the state-level steering committee of ERSS to discuss the roadmap for implementing the project. He highlighted three critical focus areas:
- Technological Integration: All emergency calls to Dial 112 will be automatically routed to the relevant department, whether for medical emergencies (108), fire incidents (101), or disaster situations (1070), ensuring a swift response.
- Expansion of Emergency Vehicles: The Punjab Police will significantly expand its fleet with 758 four-wheelers and 916 two-wheelers. The first phase, consisting of 300 new vehicles, is expected to be operational by June 2025. Currently, Punjab Police operates with 258 ERVs, which has contributed to the longer response time.
- Construction of a Modern Command Center: The new Dial 112 headquarters will feature AI-powered call analytics, GIS tracking systems, and integrated dispatch capabilities. The construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, ensuring a centralized and highly efficient emergency response system.
Special DGP Law and Order, Arpit Shukla, informed the DGP that to enhance response efficiency, 165 new smartphones have been distributed to ERVs. These smartphones, equipped with dual SIMs, will complement the existing Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs), ensuring uninterrupted connectivity even if one network fails.
The Punjab Police has already processed over 2.34 crore calls and registered nearly 20.05 lakh cases through Dial 112. The new upgrades aim to make Punjab’s emergency response system one of the most advanced in the country, ensuring the safety and well-being of citizens.
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