In a major push to transform law enforcement in the state, Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Wednesday unveiled a comprehensive, technology-driven blueprint titled 'Vision 2026'. The ambitious plan aims to make the Punjab Police more efficient, responsive, and professional through large-scale infrastructure and capability upgrades.
Core Focus: Supercharging Emergency Response
The central pillar of Vision 2026 is the significant strengthening of the Dial 112 Emergency Response Support System. A key component is the establishment of a dedicated Dial 112 Central Control Room building in Mohali, with an allocated budget of Rs 52 crore.
To ensure help reaches citizens faster, the emergency response vehicle fleet will be augmented with an additional investment of Rs 50 crore. DGP Yadav stated the clear objective is to drastically reduce the current average response time of 12–13 minutes to a target of 7–8 minutes.
Supporting this goal, district control rooms across Punjab are being upgraded at a cost of Rs 25 crore. This upgrade is designed to improve coordination and expedite incident management, creating a seamless chain for faster emergency assistance.
Fortifying Borders and Expanding Tech Capabilities
On the critical front of border security, the DGP announced the strengthening of the second line of defence. This will be achieved through the installation of 2,367 CCTV cameras at 585 strategic locations along the international border. With a project cost of Rs 49.58 crore, this extensive surveillance network is expected to act as a major force multiplier.
The fight against drone-based threats is also being scaled up. From the current three operational Anti-Drone Systems, six additional systems are under procurement, with plans to acquire 10 more in phases. The existing Drone Response Teams will be further integrated with Village Defence Committees in the coming year to enhance ground-level vigilance.
Massive Infrastructure and Modernization Drive
Highlighting the ongoing efforts, DGP Yadav revealed that the Punjab government has already spent over Rs 800 crore on modernizing the police force in the last three years. This has included providing new vehicles to all SP-rank officers in the field and equipping police stations and posts across the state with new transport.
Looking ahead, a mega police building project worth Rs 426 crores has been approved for execution over the next three years. This ambitious infrastructure plan includes:
- A new headquarters for the Cyber Crime division in Phase 4, Mohali.
- New police lines in Nawanshahr and Malerkotla districts.
- Construction of 11 new police station buildings.
- New ANTF range offices in Ludhiana, Ferozepur, and Jalandhar.
- Upgradation of existing units with modern equipment and forensic tools.
In other key initiatives, a witness protection scheme, notified under the new criminal laws, is expected to improve conviction rates. To handle digital workloads, network connectivity at police stations will be upgraded from 50 Mbps to 100 Mbps.
For better urban management, dedicated Traffic and Road Safety Police Stations will be set up. These will be integrated with Integrated Command and Control Centres for real-time monitoring via city CCTV networks and adaptive traffic signals, aiming to improve both traffic flow and emergency response in urban areas.
