PMO favours common SOS helpline number in 75 cities

NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister’s Office has asked the home ministry to extend the proposed common emergency number service to over 75 towns and cities in the country. The proposed helpline number, which will enable emergency service providers to pinpoint the location of the caller and provide quick assistance, will be common for the police, ambulance and fire services. It was initially planned for the national capital after a gangrape incident last December.

At a meeting on May 7, the PMO decided that the facility would be extended to about 75 towns and cities that have a population of over five lakh. The meeting was chaired by Pulok Chatterji, the principal secretary to the PM, and attended by top officials from the ministries of home, health and telecom.

“All states are being communicated details of the proposed project,” an official, who did not wish to be named, said, adding that the technology is expensive and the Centre may fund it through the Police Modernisation Scheme.

The helpline system — similar to the 911 in the US and 999 in the UK — will replace the helpline numbers currently in use for different types of emergencies.