UT moves on single No. for emergencies

Ramkrishan Upadhyay

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October  16

The UT Administration has   started the  process to set up the National Emergency Response System (NERS). The   project is being  implemented on the directions of the  Ministry of Home Affairs, which had asked  all states to come up with the  facility.

Under the system, a hi-tech  state-of-the-art   control room  will be set up at the Police Headquarters in Sector  9,    which will  be   used as a common platform  for  all emergency  services.  

A  single  number — 112 — will be  launched   for all emergency services of the police, ambulance, Fire Department, women helpline and disaster management. Sources  said the  design and the   initial  estimate  of the  control room  had been prepared by the  Department of Engineering. The control room is expected to come up at a cost of Rs 4.50  crore.  

A single number for emergency services has been planned on the pattern of the 911 all-in-one emergency service in the US. A senior  police official said the number would ensure a well-coordinated response to a person in distress.

All existing emergency numbers will be  replaced  after  rolling out 112 in a phased manner,  depending upon the awareness about the new facility. At present, different emergency, communication and response systems are in place such as police (100), fire brigade (101), ambulance (102) and emergency disaster management (108).

Trained persons will be appointed at the control room, who  are fluent in  Hindi, English, Punjabi  and other  languages.  Last year, the UT had visualised a plan to launch the single number for all emergency services, but the project kept hanging fire.

How ‘112’ will work

Under the system, a hi-tech state-of-the-art control room will be set up at the Police Headquarters in Sector 9, which will be used as a common platform for all emergency services. A single number — 112 — will be launched for all emergency services of the police, ambulance, Fire Department, women helpline and disaster management.