Patna: Bihar is preparing to make its Dial 112 emergency response service faster and more efficient, particularly in rural areas where emergency vehicles can currently take longer to reach the location of an incident.
Under the proposed plan, Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) will be positioned within a three-to-four-kilometre radius so that teams can reach people in an estimated six to eight minutes after receiving an emergency call.
The state is also planning to strengthen the infrastructure supporting Dial 112, including a seven-storey State Data Centre in Patna’s Rajiv Nagar.
Rural Areas To Get Closer ERV Deployment
At present, Dial 112 vehicles in several districts, particularly rural areas, are positioned across a radius of around six to eight kilometres.
As a result, emergency vehicles can take up to 15 minutes to reach a location after receiving information. The proposed reduction in deployment distance is aimed at cutting this travel time.
The plan will require an increase in the number of emergency response vehicles so that sufficient units can be positioned closer to populated areas and other locations where emergency calls are received.
Proposal For 1,200 New Emergency Vehicles
To strengthen the network, a proposal to purchase 1,200 new Emergency Response Vehicles has been sent to the Home Department.
The Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) currently has 1,833 vehicles, comprising 1,283 four-wheelers and 550 two-wheelers.
Once the additional vehicles become available, they can be deployed according to requirements in different districts and areas, helping reduce the distance between emergency vehicles and callers.
Urban Response Already Below 10 Minutes
According to ERSS SP Sheela Irani, Dial 112 vehicles in urban areas of Patna and several other districts are already reaching incident locations in less than 10 minutes.
The focus now is on further reducing response time and improving the quality of emergency services. Authorities are also working on the use of new technology and improved service infrastructure to make the system more effective.
Seven-Storey State Data Centre Planned In Rajiv Nagar
The infrastructure supporting Dial 112 is also set for expansion with the proposed construction of a seven-storey State Data Centre in Rajiv Nagar, Patna.
The facility will be built on around 27 kathas of land and will include modern infrastructure and facilities connected with the Dial 112 emergency response system.
At present, the Dial 112 office operates from a facility behind the Hanuman Temple in Rajvanshi Nagar.
The new building is expected to provide a larger and more modern operational centre for the emergency service.
150 Personnel To Handle Calls At Once
The proposed State Data Centre will also increase the capacity of the Dial 112 call-handling system.
At the existing office, around 90 personnel can handle calls simultaneously. The new facility will have space for around 150 personnel to receive calls at the same time.
The building will also accommodate modern technology and other facilities required to support emergency response operations.
Caller Location Appears On Screen
The Dial 112 system uses technology to identify the caller’s location when an emergency call is received.
The caller’s location appears on the computer screen of the call-handling team. After the complaint is recorded, the relevant information and location are forwarded to the concerned police officials.
The system then identifies and alerts the nearest available Dial 112 vehicle, allowing the response team to begin travelling to the location.
Information Sent To Vehicle And Police Station
Details of the incident are also sent through a link to the Dial 112 response vehicle and the concerned police station officer’s mobile phone or tablet.
The response team then leaves for the location. In routine cases, the Dial 112 team can address the matter at the spot. In serious cases, the concerned police station is informed and police personnel are called to the scene.
Target Of Six To Eight Minutes
The proposed changes are aimed at bringing emergency assistance closer to people, particularly in rural and remote areas.
With ERVs positioned within three to four kilometres, authorities expect the service to move towards a six-to-eight-minute response target.
The proposed 1,200 additional vehicles and the new seven-storey State Data Centre in Rajiv Nagar are expected to strengthen both the field response network and the technology infrastructure behind Bihar’s Dial 112 emergency service.
