Punjab has added 508 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) to its police fleet as part of efforts to improve emergency response systems and strengthen law enforcement infrastructure, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Tuesday.
The vehicles, deployed under the Dial-112 system across 28 police districts, are equipped with GPS tracking, mobile data systems and communication tools to enable faster response to distress calls.
The Chief Minister said the state aims to reduce response time to single-digit minutes, building on improvements that have already brought average response time down to about 13–14 minutes from 30–45 minutes earlier.
Punjab has invested ₹327.70 crore in police vehicles over the past four years, significantly expanding fleet capacity and operational reach, he said.
The ERV rollout increases the Dial-112 fleet size to over 700 vehicles, with the system handling approximately 15,000 calls daily, of which a portion require field deployment.
Mann said police modernisation efforts have supported broader governance goals, including improving law and order and enabling economic activity. He cited investments by companies such as Tata Steel as indicators of improved security perception.
The state has also undertaken recruitment drives and technology upgrades, including plans to integrate artificial intelligence tools in policing systems.
Separately, the government has launched specialised initiatives such as the Sadak Surakhiya Force to improve road safety outcomes on highways.
The Chief Minister said the focus remains on building a technology-driven, responsive policing system aligned with evolving urban and rural security needs.
