The ambitious panic alarm button project is getting revived again after being put on hold for five years. In 2018, the project was approved, and panic alarm buttons were to be installed in about 250 public places in Ahmedabad, including AMTS bus stops. It was to improve women’s safety and security in the city.
Ahmedabad was one of the eight cities chosen for the project across the country. The project was funded by the Nirbhaya funds, and it was to be carried out jointly by the Ahmedabad Police and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Unfortunately, for unknown reasons, the project did not take off at that time.
The project was initiated as part of the Nirbhaya fund, which was established by the Centre in the aftermath of the horrific Nirbhaya rape incident. The fund was to be used for projects to improve women’s safety, one of which was to install CCTV panic alarm buttons in various locations for women.
The goal was to ensure that women could seek immediate assistance if they were in distress. The panic alarm was to be linked to the police control room, and when activated, it would provide the location of the caller to those working in the control room.
A senior AMC official told Mirror that 250 places were selected, and tenders were also issued. “Then suddenly, in 2020 and 2021, the project was stuck. This has been the fate of many projects under the Nirbhaya fund,” said the official.
Transport Manager RL Pandey said the Ahmedabad police had asked the AMC for a list of bus stands in the city, which was provided. “We don’t have any update about it now,” said Pandey.
JCP Ajay Chaudhari said that the project planning was in the final stages and will soon be implemented.
AMTS sites for panic alarm buttons
• Lal Darwaja bus stand
• Gujarat University bus stand
• Ashram Road, Natraj cinema
• Income Tax bus stand
• Sarangpur bus stand
• Vadaj bus stand
• RTO bus stand
• Paldi bus stand
• Dilli Darwaza bus stand
• Kalupur bus stand
• Asarwa Civil Hospital
• Chandkheda bus stand
• Soni ni Chali, Odhav
• Rakhial Char Rasta
• Raipur Darwaja bus stand