Punjab integrates highway and cybercrime helplines with Dial 112 for unified emergency response

In a landmark move to make emergency services more accessible and efficient, as envisioned by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Police have integrated the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Helpline 1033 and the Cybercrime Helpline 1930 with Dial 112—Punjab’s Unified Emergency Response System. This integration now allows citizens to simply dial 112 to report highway accidents, breakdowns, hazards, financial frauds, and cybercrimes.

The initiative, implemented under the direction of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, brings multiple critical services under a single-window platform, ensuring quicker and easier access to support. Earlier, citizens had to call separate helpline numbers to report frauds or road accidents, which made it difficult to remember multiple numbers. Until now, the 112 helpline has been primarily used to report crimes occurring across the state.

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“Now, whether you are a road user in distress on a highway or a victim of cyber fraud, a single call to 112 is all it takes. Your case will be instantly transferred between systems for faster action, eliminating duplication and cutting delays,” said Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who has been directly supervising Dial 112.

He elaborated that all highway distress calls made by dialing either 112 or 1033 are now linked in real time to both police resources and NHAI, ensuring prompt action. Similarly, victims of cybercrime can dial 112 or 1930, with their complaints directly registered in the National Cybercrime Portal by specially trained cyber dispatchers stationed at the Dial 112 Control Room.

Calling Dial 112 the “nerve centre” of Punjab’s emergency response, Special DGP Shukla said this integration has transformed it into a truly unified platform covering Police, Fire, Ambulance, Disaster Response, Highway Safety, and Cybercrime under one roof. He highlighted that the system is supported by 257 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) and 144 dedicated Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF) vehicles deployed across the state and on highways for rapid intervention.

“Under the direct supervision of DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav, we are committed to continuously strengthening Dial 112 with next-generation technology and integration. This step marks a major leap in enhancing citizen access to critical services and reducing response times, especially on highways and in cybercrime cases,” he added.

The Special DGP further stated that the Punjab Government has placed the highest priority on this service, sanctioning a budget of Rs 100 crore for new ERVs and Rs 53 crore for a dedicated Dial 112 headquarters building—paving the way for one of the country’s most advanced and citizen-focused emergency response systems.