Advanced weapons, tech to help cops counter terror
Ahmedabad: The state government has allotted money to home department for technology and weapons upgrade keeping last year's incidents and the ever-looming terror threat in mind. The state police would get new weapons, vehicles and technology for conventional and unconventional crime-fighting.
As per the state budget alloca tions, under the head police modernization, Gujarat police would get Rs41 crore in 60:40 centre-state allocation ratio, out of which Rs10.25 crore would go towards procuring AK rifles (Avtomat Kalashnikova) and Excalibur, the upgraded variant of INSAS rifles made in India.
Officials said that the state armed police have conducted tri als for Excalibur and have suggested a few design changes, after which the procurement would be made. "The idea is to phase out the old rifles with armed police," said a state police official. Similarly, Rs45 crore has been allocated for phasing out old police vehicles.
An allocation of Rs10 crore has been made to set up a command and control centre at Gandhinagar.
"At the moment, there are multiple control rooms for various state police agencies. The idea is to set up a new building that would house all the control rooms in one place for better inter agency coordination at the time of emergency . It is a three-year project where the building construction would start with this year's allocation," said the official.
This year, the state police would also procure anti-riot gear including helmets, shields, knee, elbow and shin guards and jackets at the cost of Rs5 crore.
Police would also go on a recruitment drive to fill up vacant posts across the state. In this budget, police have got the nod for 1,339 new posts for 17 police stations in the city , which would either be set up new or be upgraded.For the purpose, annual budget of Rs28.02 crore has been sanctioned.
For women's safety
A s part of the National Emergency Response System (NERS) initiative launched by the central government for women's safety, all police vehicles in the state would be fitted with GPS. Rs 3 crore has been sanctioned for the purpose. The state government has allocated Rs50 lakh for developing Mobile-based Police Assistance to Woman Emergency and Response (M-PAWER) system.
Power in the pocket
State police officials would get `Pocket Cop,' a smart handheld device, this year. Rs5 crore has been set aside for the purpose. The device would have various laws, notifications and crime-relevant data available at a click. It would also have provision for video call with the seniors and subordinates from the crime spot.
For women's safety
A s part of the National Emergency Response System (NERS) initiative launched by the central government for women's safety, all police vehicles in the state would be fitted with GPS. Rs 3 crore has been sanctioned for the purpose. The state government has allocated Rs50 lakh for developing Mobile-based Police Assistance to Woman Emergency and Response (M-PAWER) system.
Power in the pocket
State police officials would get `Pocket Cop,' a smart handheld device, this year. Rs5 crore has been set aside for the purpose. The device would have various laws, notifications and crime-relevant data available at a click. It would also have provision for video call with the seniors and subordinates from the crime spot.
For women's safety
A s part of the National Emergency Response System (NERS) initiative launched by the central government for women's safety, all police vehicles in the state would be fitted with GPS. Rs 3 crore has been sanctioned for the purpose. The state government has allocated Rs50 lakh for developing Mobile-based Police Assistance to Woman Emergency and Response (M-PAWER) system.
Power in the pocket
State police officials would get `Pocket Cop,' a smart handheld device, this year. Rs5 crore has been set aside for the purpose. The device would have various laws, notifications and crime-relevant data available at a click. It would also have provision for video call with the seniors and subordinates from the crime spot.
Apps for cop tasks
Rs3 crore has been allocated for m-governance, in which the state police are expected to come up with applications to make tasks like registration of domestic help or tenants, and applying for various police permissions, easier.
For curbing corruption
The state anti-corruption bureau (ACB) has got Rs25 lakh budget for providing incentive to informants.
For protection of water and minerals
The state police would raise an SRP battalion specifically to work with state government's maritime board, water supply board and industries and mines department for security and to prevent pilferage. The state jail officials have got Rs 5 crore for installing CCTV on premises of Nadiad district jail and sub-jails at Bharuch, Godhra, Himmatnagar and Surendranagar. A new training complex in Ahmedabad will be built at the cost of Rs 1 crore. From this year, prison officials will start installing Jail Inmates' Visitor Application Networking (JIVAN) system at the cost of Rs 50 lakh