In a significant move towards enhancing public safety, Vodafone Idea (Vi), a leading Indian telecom service provider, is collaborating with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Ltd (MSRDC) to set up emergency calling booths along the Mumbai-Pune expressway. The initiative aims to provide commuters with a direct means to contact relevant authorities in times of need, contributing to swift response in emergencies.
Ubiquitous Connectivity for Public Safety: Vi will strategically install emergency calling booths every two kilometres on the expressway, ensuring that travellers have immediate access to the state highway police control room. This initiative is designed to facilitate communication in emergency situations such as medical emergencies, accidents, or vehicle breakdowns.
To maintain seamless connectivity and avoid network disruptions, Vi will keep each calling booth connected 24×7, utilizing its SIM for uniformity. MSRDC will oversee equipment maintenance and address any issues or queries raised by commuters, ensuring the effectiveness of the emergency communication infrastructure.
Life-Saving Tool in Distress: Rohit Tandon, Cluster Business Head (Maharashtra and Goa) at Vodafone Idea, expressed the significance of these emergency calling booths in critical situations. He stated, “In certain emergency situations, these emergency calling booths have proven to be a life-saving tool for establishing fast and direct connection with the highway patrol, especially in cases of medical situations, accidents, and vehicle breakdowns.”
Potential for Future Expansion: While Vi has not confirmed plans for similar communication booths on highways in other states, the success of this initiative may serve as inspiration for other state governments to collaborate with telecom operators and implement similar measures on their roads.
