The Maharashtra Emergency Response Service number will replace all emergency numbers across state; the state police has trained 7,000 dedicated staff for the service
The emergency call received by any of the two centres will be transferred to the local police control room based on the location. Representation pic
The Maharashtra Emergency Response Service (MERS) is all set to roll-out by the end of March this year. The centralised emergency number -112 - will replace all emergency numbers across Maharashtra including 100 for the police control room. With this number, the Maharashtra police hopes the centralised system will bring more transparency and accountability in the police department. The coordination of MERS will directly be monitored by the Additional Director General (ADG) law and order at the Maharashtra police headquarters in Colaba.
ADVERTISEMENT
The ambitious project of Maharashtra police, which has missed many deadlines since 2017-18, was supposed to be operational this Republic Day. "Around 80%-85 % of the project is completed with all necessary training to the staff. We hope the project will be operational by the end of March this year," S Jagannathan, ADG Planning and Coordination, Maharashtra police, told mid-day.
Manpower and infrastructure
The Maharashtra police has trained 7,000 dedicated staff for this emergency response service. As per the requirement of the project, the state police will purchase 1,500 four wheelers and 2,000 two wheelers."We have already received 450 vehicles for the project. We will have enough two wheelers as per the requirement of the project and similarly more two wheelers will be purchased whenever needed," Jagannathan added.
S Jagannathan, ADG, Planning and Coordination, Maharashtra police
A five years contract was awarded to a private firm, Mahindra Defence, to set up two call centres, one in Navi Mumbai and second in Nagpur for the number. "These two centres will have private staff of 100 and 40 respectively. They will receive the emergency call and then transfer it to the local police control room based on the location. The nearest vehicle will then be deployed," he further added.
How it will work
The Maharashtra police currently has 54 control units across Maharashtra including the commissionerate. Explaining the functioning of the two centres, Jagannathan said, "When the person calls, the responder will have his GPS location on his computer and the details of the contact number. Within 30 to 40 seconds he will transfer the call to the local police control room."
"The centres monitored by the DG office will also have the GPS location of the vehicle which is diverted to the location. The time when the vehicle reaches the person who called will be noted. The call will be closed only after getting a proper remark as what was the complaint and what was done to resolve it. The biggest advantage of the centralised system is that 100 % calls will be attended and there this will bring more transparency and accountability. The police HQ will have all the data." Jagannathan further said.
The operation of the two control centres will be monitored by DCP rank officers under whom two ACPs and 25 other officers of API, PSI, ASI and PI rank will work. All the newly purchased vehicles will have GPS tracking systems and Mobile Data Terminal (MDT).
Talking about the existing emergency numbers, Jagannathan said, "As people are used to the existing numbers, especially 100 and 108, they will remain for some time until we totally shift to the single emergency number -112. We will do vast publicity once the project is operational. Once people are used to the number, all other emergency numbers will be closed permanently."
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
