Motorway Police to launch centralised emergency helpline

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

* DIG says complete infrastructure strategy has been planned out

* New call system to pinpoint exact location of commuter

Staff Report

LAHORE: Motorway Police is all set to launch a modern and centralised emergency helpline call centre across the country by next month to provide immediate relief to victims of accidents and other untoward incidents, like faults in vehicles or medical emergencies.

Motorway Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dr Muhammad Shafique told Daily Times that it was noticed that when the commuters dial the motorway helpline 130, it connects to a distant control room and caused slight delay in provision of emergency relief to motorists.

He further said that the Motorway Police had also designed an awareness campaign about safe driving and a special walk will be organised on “World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims” on November 21, 2010, from Saggiyan Bridge to Ravi Toll Plaza.

Shafique added that after planning the complete infrastructure and strategy of the new project, the motorway police department had started working on it. He said that around 4,000 officers and officials are working in field and other offices across the country. He said that the citizens faced several problems while travelling on the motorway; if a vehicle developed a mechanical fault.

“When they try to call the helpline, it connects to the control room far from their area because there are several towers that give different signals along the motorway,” he said.

The new call system would not only save the data of the caller but it would also pinpoint the location of the motorist. And if the helping squad does not arrive in the given time from the call centre, than action would be taken against the concerned officials, Shafique said.