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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.
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