Women’s safety is a significant issue and a major challenge for law enforcement. Ensuring that women feel secure and creating a safe environment in the city is no small feat. In a unique initiative in Gujarat, the Ahmedabad Police have launched a groundbreaking project aimed at enhancing the safety of women, children, and senior citizens.
Emergency call boxes (ECB) have been installed throughout Ahmedabad, allowing individuals in distress to directly contact the police control room by pressing a red help button. These call boxes feature a two-way communication system, complete with a video camera, enabling real-time conversations with officers.
The police have established 205 of these call boxes across various areas of the city to enhance the safety of vulnerable populations. To support this initiative, over 120 officers have been deployed to handle the calls, and a separate control room has been constructed to manage the emergency responses effectively.
To gain further insights into this initiative, Indian Masterminds spoke with Ajay Kumar Choudhary, a 1999-batch IPS officer and the Special Police Commissioner of Ahmedabad.
THE BOXES
Under the Nirbhaya Safe City Project, a pilot initiative in Ahmedabad has proven to be highly successful. As part of this project, 205 call boxes equipped with advanced AI technology have been strategically installed throughout the city, particularly in areas identified as high-risk for safety concerns, especially for women.
The scheme is funded by the central and state governments in a 60:40 ratio. This initiative is the first of its kind, and Ahmedabad is the first city in India to launch such a program.
The primary goal of this initiative is to provide immediate assistance during emergencies. On average, the police receive 50 to 60 calls daily through these call boxes.
Mr. Choudhary stated, “Anyone in distress can press the button to receive help. This action will initiate a video call to the police control room, enabling officers to respond quickly to the location. We also plan to install more such call boxes in the near future.”
HOW IT WORKS
The box has a mic, speaker and camera along with an emergency button. If someone feels they need assistance from the police, pressing the red button on the call box instantly activates high-resolution night vision cameras. This action establishes a direct link to the police control room. Following this, the nearest police van or officer will be dispatched to assist the individual. They will reached the spot within 3 to 5 minutes as soon as information was sent from the control room to the PCR van at a nearby location.
This direct connection allows people in distress to communicate swiftly with law enforcement. In cases of imminent danger, the police can respond promptly, ensuring the safety and well-being of those involved.
More than 120 police officers have been deployed in the field under this project to handle such calls and alert the nearest police station.
“These boxes are not exclusively for women. Any citizen facing danger, emergencies, or in need of help can use the Emergency Box to receive immediate assistance,” Mr. Choudhary emphasized.
THE CONTROL ROOM
A control room has been established at the police commissioner’s office specifically for this project.
Over 180 specially trained police personnel are continuously monitoring the system around the clock. The ID camera instantly alerts the PCR van, She Team, and the 181 team to the location of anyone seeking help, ensuring a rapid response to those in need.
There may still be many people unaware of these call boxes. Regarding this, Mr. Choudhary said, “Although the call boxes have been installed for a couple of months now, there is still a need for greater awareness about their purpose. We are actively working on increasing public awareness in Ahmedabad.”
SUCCESS STORIES
There are several stories of this project where a woman lost her mobile phone to a thief. The police arrived at the scene promptly after receiving a call from one of these emergency boxes and apprehended the culprit. There is also a story where a woman needed assistance after being harassed by some boys. The police arrived at the scene immediately and took the necessary action.
