Namma 112 helpline sees significant growth; calls from women rise

The city’s emergency response system has witnessed major technological upgrades over the past four years, resulting in faster response times, increased accountability, and improved citizen safety, with the Namma 112 helpline having received 5,22,742 calls, including 1,16,800 from women last year, marking an increase of around 77,000 calls compared to 2024, said a release.

This surge in emergency reporting coincided with a 9% reduction in cases, said the police.

According to officials, the transformation began in 2022 with the Bangalore Safe City Project, supported by the Union government’s Nirbhaya Fund. Despite limited technological infrastructure, emergency response teams handled 2,49,945 calls, including 91,250 from women, aided by Hoysala patrol units and a fleet of 320 vehicles, building public confidence in police responsiveness.

In 2023, Bengaluru became the first city in India to integrate body cameras with its command-and-control workflow. Every Hoysala patrol vehicle was equipped with dashboard cameras, improving transparency, officer safety, and evidence collection. That year, 2,51,779 calls were handled, including 98,550 from women, as the system prepared for the upgraded 112 infrastructure.

Citizen-centric enhancements continued in 2024. Distressed callers received SMS-based vehicle tracking of approaching patrols and follow-up feedback calls. Bengaluru recorded 4,43,918 emergency calls, including 1,02,480 from women, with 68% of callers giving five-star ratings, reflecting high public satisfaction, said the release.

Additionally, emergency call boxes were installed at safety islands and integrated with the helpline, resulting in 230 genuine emergency calls being received through these facilities.

From PRI to SIP tech

Mid-2025 saw another major upgrade with the migration from PRI to SIP technology, reducing call congestion and dropped connections, along with number masking to protect caller privacy.

By late 2025, the helpline integrated with Ola and Uber, allowing passengers to access emergency services directly during rides. Police officials have stated that further upgrades — including multilingual support and integration with government and private agencies — are planned to further enhance accessibility and efficiency, added the release.

Over the last four years, Bengaluru’s emergency response system has handled 9,45,642 emergency calls, assisting 2,92,280 women in distress, demonstrating the city’s commitment to leveraging technology for public safety, the release said.