Patna: Bihar is expanding its Dial 112 emergency response network with a second Emergency Response Support System (ERSS) centre coming up in Gaya, with operations expected to begin in October.
The new centre is being prepared at the old SSP office building in Gaya, locally referred to as Gayaji. Once operational, the centre is planned to receive every fourth Dial 112 call, creating a second location for handling emergency requests and reducing the system’s dependence on the Patna centre.
The facility will also serve as a backup if the main centre faces technical problems, network disruptions or other operational difficulties.
Gaya to Handle Every Fourth Dial 112 Call
The proposed Gaya centre will form part of the planned call-distribution system for Bihar’s Dial 112 service.
Under the arrangement, every fourth incoming call will be directed to Gaya. The move is expected to distribute the emergency call-handling workload instead of routing all calls through the Patna facility.
The centre will have capacity for 20 personnel to receive emergency calls simultaneously. After taking a call, the staff will collect information about the emergency and initiate the required response, including coordinating the deployment of Dial 112 emergency vehicles to the relevant location.
This will give Bihar an additional operational point for receiving and processing emergency calls.
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Old SSP Office Being Prepared for Emergency Response
The Gaya facility is being established at the old SSP office building. The Police Building Construction Corporation Limited is currently working on preparing the premises for the emergency response system.
The centre is expected to become operational in October, according to officials.
Its location in Gaya will provide Bihar with a second emergency call-handling facility outside the state capital, adding another layer to the existing Dial 112 infrastructure.
Backup if Patna Faces Technical Problems
One of the important roles planned for the Gaya centre is to act as a parallel and contingency facility.
If the main Dial 112 centre in Patna experiences technical faults, network problems or another disruption, emergency calls can be rerouted to Gaya.
This is significant for an emergency service because the ability to continue receiving calls during a technical disruption can help maintain continuity of emergency response.
The Ministry of Home Affairs describes ERSS-112 as a unified emergency response system through which distress calls are received and actionable incidents are forwarded to relevant response services, including police, health, fire and disaster-management agencies.
Patna Centre Currently Handles 90 Calls at Once
The existing Dial 112 centre in Patna currently has the capacity for 90 personnel to receive emergency calls simultaneously.
Bihar is also developing another Dial 112 building in Rajiv Nagar, Patna. Once the new facility becomes operational, the Patna centre is expected to increase its simultaneous call-handling capacity to 150 personnel.
The expansion means the state will have additional infrastructure both in the capital and outside Patna to manage the growing requirements of its emergency response system.
What the Gaya Centre Means for Emergency Services
The new centre is not intended to replace the Patna facility. Instead, it will operate alongside it.
The planned arrangement will provide Bihar with:
- A second location for receiving Dial 112 emergency calls
- A planned distribution mechanism for incoming calls
- Additional simultaneous call-handling capacity
- A backup facility during technical or network disruptions
- Another location for coordinating Dial 112 emergency vehicles
Together, these measures can make the emergency-response network less dependent on a single call centre.
Technology and Faster Emergency Coordination
Dial 112 works as part of the broader ERSS framework, which connects citizen distress calls with dispatch systems and field response units.
The national ERSS framework allows emergency information to move from call-taking systems to dispatchers handling police, health, fire, disaster and other emergency services. It also uses computer-aided dispatch and GIS-based systems to help response teams reach incident locations.
For Bihar, adding Gaya as a parallel centre can therefore strengthen the infrastructure supporting this process, particularly when the primary centre faces operational challenges.
A Second Emergency Hub for Bihar
The proposed Gaya centre adds another layer to Bihar’s emergency response infrastructure at a time when the state is also expanding capacity at its Patna facility.
With the Gaya centre planned to receive every fourth Dial 112 call and accommodate 20 call-handling personnel simultaneously, the system will have an additional operational base outside the capital.
The parallel arrangement is also designed to provide continuity if Patna faces technical or network-related disruptions.
As the Gaya facility moves towards its expected October launch, the expansion will give Bihar’s Dial 112 service a second centre for receiving emergency calls and coordinating responses, while the planned Rajiv Nagar facility is expected to further increase capacity in Patna.
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