Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday marked a significant milestone in the state’s law enforcement capabilities by flagging off 508 new Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) in Sangrur. During the event, the Chief Minister announced that Punjab is now positioned to provide police assistance within just six minutes, a response time that rivals developed regions like the United States and Europe.
The newly inducted fleet, consisting of 508 Tata Boleros, is equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including mobile data terminals, GPS trackers, dash cameras, and wireless systems. These vehicles will be integrated into the ‘Dial-112’ emergency network and deployed across all 28 police districts.
The Chief Minister noted that the expansion has increased the total Dial-112 fleet to 764 vehicles, reducing the average response time from nearly 45 minutes to approximately 13 minutes, with a target to hit the six-minute mark consistently.
Highlighting his government’s financial commitment to modernization, CM Mann revealed that ₹327.70 crore has been spent on police vehicles over the last four years.
He contrasted this with the expenditures of previous administrations, noting that the ‘Captain Government’ spent ₹92.52 crore while the Akali Dal allocated ₹160 crore during their respective tenures. “For the first time, we have adopted a bottom-up approach, ensuring that SHOs at the ground level are provided with new vehicles rather than just senior officers,” the Chief Minister stated.
Addressing the drug menace, the Chief Minister called for a “social boycott” of those involved in the illegal trade, describing it as a necessary final blow to eradicate the problem.
He claimed that the state’s “Yudh Nashean Virudh” campaign has broken the backbone of supply chains, achieving a record conviction rate of 87%. He further linked the state’s improved law and order to economic growth, citing Tata Steel’s decision to establish its second-largest plant in Punjab as a testament to investor confidence.
The Chief Minister also lauded the success of the Sadak Surakhiya Force (SSF), the nation’s first dedicated highway safety unit. Since its launch, the SSF comprising 1,597 personnel and 144 modern vehicles has reportedly reduced road accident fatalities by 48% across 4,200 km of accident-prone highways.
Looking ahead, CM Mann announced plans to integrate Artificial Intelligence into policing and confirmed the ongoing recruitment of over 5,000 personnel to further bolster the force.
The event was attended by Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema and Barinder Goyal, Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, and other senior officials. The Chief Minister concluded by reiterating his administration’s focus on transparent governance, citing free electricity, the closure of toll plazas, and corruption-free recruitments as core achievements of the current leadership.