SOS call service project on NH-I delayed

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, January 15

The ambitious project of introducing emergency call boxes (ECBs) on the Panipat-Jalandhar stretch of the NH-1 has been delayed by over six months.

According to the plan, Soma Isolux, the private company engaged by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for widening the NH-1 to six-lanes, was mandated to set up the SOS (Save Our Souls) booths at every 2 km on the 291-km stretch. The facility was expected to be functional in July last but it has not so far.

Once functional, commuters can contact the help desk by pressing a ‘call button’ on the ECB in case of vehicle breakdowns, accidents or any other traffic-related problem. NHAI project director Vipin Sharma told The Tribune today that the project got delayed due to technical issues.

“A dedicated 24x7 help desk has been based at Shambhu located on the Ambala-Patiala border. ECBs are being calibrated with Google to enable the help desk pinpoint the exact location of the call and ensure availability of immediate guidance or assistance needed to meet any emergency situation,” he said. According to the NHAI official, ECBs would be functional in the next couple of months. He said each unit would be made easily accessible round-the-clock to users.

ECBs are powered by solar panels and connected through underground optical fibre.