In a major step towards improving the response time of police in the state, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav laid the foundation stone of building to house the world's biggest integrated Police Emergency Response System ('Dial 100') at the Gomtinagar Extension in lucknow on Saturday.
The project which earlier got the state cabinet nod will cost the state exchequer Rs 2325.35 crores and the system will have sub-centres at at Agra and Varanasi. Several ministers and senior officials were present in the function as DGP Jagmohan Yadav welcomed the guests.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM said that the PERS would enable the police to reach the scene within 20 minutes of the incident in rural areas and within 10 minutes on two-wheelrs and 15 minutes on four-wheelers in urban areas.
"This is the biggest project of the state and the country for modernisation of police system and will commence within a year," Yadav announced.
In emergency or distress, any person can contact the Dial 100 facility through landline, cellhone and even send an SMS any time of the day. All calls would be recorded and the cases will be closed only if the complainant is satisfied. Of the total 4800 vehicles attached with the Centre across UP, 1600 would be two-wheelers and rest four-wheelers and all of them would be equipped with latest gadgets.
The UP government has allotted 8 acres of land for the facility near Shaheed Path which besides housing the call centre, will also have a Training Centre for personnel who will be oriented for attending emergency calls and dealing the situations by dispatching police and emergency assistance.
With 300 communication officers to receive distress calls from across UP and 200 dispatch officers to ensure timely police help, the country's largest centralised 'Dial 100' facility will extend help at time of medical emergencies too. Slated to be functional by December, 2016, the Cnetre will have police personnel and vehicles in addition to the district police force to reach the scene of any emergency.