For all emergencies, you can simply dial 112 soon

Mumbai: A year after the Central government’s announcement to have a single emergency phone number – 112 — the Maharashtra government is set to start the service soon.

By dialling 112, police, fire brigade and medical services can be availed for any emergency. The home department is currently testing the 112 line for a quick response. At present, there are different numbers for the various services.

Delhi was the first city to implement the helpline last year. Now, all the major cities will have the same number for emergency. The implementation of the emergency number was a part of a pilot project in Delhi and eventually it is being replicated in other cities in a phase-wise manner. The Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) has cleared the budget estimated for the equipment required to set up the service.

“We will launch the number within a couple of months as all the technical support is being put in place. The Centre had instructed the states to set up a single helpline on the lines of Europe and America making easier for people to remember the number,” an official from the home department said.

For a few days, the 112 number will run parallel to the existing response systems that are in place — police (100), fire brigade (101), ambulance (102). These old number will be slowly disconnected as the people start getting used to with the new 112 number, the official added.

The 112 number is similar to 911 emergency service number in the US. “There are complaints about the emergency numbers being busy all the time. We are trying to resolve the issue with the telecom ministry. The new number will save time if people who are facing some trouble,” the official added.