Gujarat's 112 Janrakshak fleet hits 1,000 vehicles, targets sub-8-minute response
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Gujarat has doubled its Dial 112 emergency response fleet to 1,000 Janrakshak vehicles, with Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi flagging off 500 new advanced units in Gandhinagar on Tuesday, 25 August. The expansion is part of a push to cut average police response times to under eight minutes across the state.
What Prompted the Expansion
Gujarat's average police response time has already dropped sharply — from 27 minutes to 10 minutes 49 seconds — following the introduction of a 150-seat emergency call centre, Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) technology, and caller-location systems. The state government now aims to push that figure below the eight-minute mark through the enlarged fleet and continued technological upgrades.
The Janrakshak framework was formally launched in 2025, consolidating police, ambulance, fire services, the women's helpline, child helpline, disaster response, and traffic assistance under a single unified platform.
Scale of Operations So Far
In its first 11 months, the Janrakshak project handled more than 11.04 lakh integrated emergency service requests, according to the Gujarat Police. Of these, more than 6.74 lakh were police emergency incidents in which immediate assistance was provided.
Notably, the 112 panic button has been integrated into ride-hailing platforms including Ola, Uber, Rapido, and Bharat Taxi, allowing users to trigger emergency alerts directly from within those applications.
What the New Vehicles Carry
Each new Janrakshak unit is equipped for round-the-clock operations. On-board facilities include Mobile Data Terminals for real-time information, GPS-based vehicle tracking, emergency light bars and sirens, public-address systems, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, and searchlights. Dashboard cameras are installed in every vehicle, and deployed personnel are provided with body cameras, helmets, and protective gear.
Jurisdiction Barrier Removed
A revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) now allows the nearest available Police Control Room vehicle to be dispatched to an incident regardless of jurisdictional boundaries — a structural change designed to eliminate delays caused by administrative demarcation.
What Officials Said
Minister of State Kamlesh Patel said the state had 'consistently worked towards ensuring peace, prosperity and security' and that the Gujarat Police remained committed to public safety. He added that the 112 emergency service would 'provide faster and more effective assistance so that police help could reach citizens as quickly as possible.'
With the fleet now at full strength, the government's next milestone will be validated by whether average response times breach the sub-eight-minute threshold in real-world conditions across both urban and rural Gujarat.