Law and Order: Highway Patrol 24×7

Team Udayavani, Oct 10, 2018, 6:49 PM IST

Mangaluru: 9 additional highway patrol vehicles have been inducted into Dakshina Kannada (DK) district and hence, the total number of highway patrol vehicles in the district has reached to 15. With this addition, it is now possible for the highway police to do 24×7 patrolling.

Recently, the Mangaluru Police Commissionerate received 3 new highway patrol vehicles and 6 new highway patrol vehicles were given to the DK District police. Hence currently, there are 4 vehicles with Mangaluru police and 11 vehicles with the district police, respectively.

Earlier, there was only one highway patrol vehicle for the 19 police stations coming within Mangaluru Police Commisionerate limits. This lone vehicle had to dispatched whenever an incident occurred on the highway anywhere within the 1,09,373 sq. kms limits of the Commissionerate. Because of this, it was not possible to reach the incident location in good time and provide assistance.

With the induction of the three new vehicles, the staff for the vehicles is now functioning on shift basis. Thus it is now possible to provide 24×7 service.

Operational Route

The 4 highway patrol vehicles will provide assistance during emergency situations and the operational route of the vehicles is as follows:

1. From Kottara to Surathkal and along the Kulur- Kavoor road
2. Kottara – KPT – Airport road
3. Nanthoor – Kulashekar – Farangipet road
4. Nanthoor – Pumpwell – Talapady road

Bantwal, Puttur, Belthangady, Sullia, Kadaba taluks come within the district police limits. Earlier, there were 5 highway patrol vehicles here and now with the induction of 6 new highway patrol vehicles; the strength has gone up to 11. Of these vehicles, 6 vehicles have been dedicated for the traffic and 5 vehicles have been dedicated for the law and order division respectively. Moreover, 5 vehicles of the Abbakka division are also providing assistance in maintaining law and order.

Two more vehicles required

Two additional highway patrol vehicles are required to provide service along the Mulki – Kinnigoli – Moodbidri route and Nanthoor – Moodbidri road say the senior police officials. (Currently, a interceptor vehicle patrols along the Surathkal – Mulki road).

Highway Patrol vehicle features

The Highway Patrol vehicles are equipped with AC, automatic video camera, stretcher to carry accident victims, equipment to handle traffic jam and any other congestion, readymade barricade, rotation camera, first aid facility, contact numbers of all hospitals, ambulances, fire services, Mescom and Forest Department officials. The staffs within the vehicle include an ASI, home guard staff and a driver.

24×7 service

“With the induction of 6 new highway patrol vehicles to the district police, there are now altogether 11 vehicles available through which it is possible to provide 24×7 service to the public. Now it is possible to immediately make haste towards any incident occurring in any corner of the district. In the situation of an accident, these vehicles will help in saving lives by transferring the injured to the hospital within the golden hour for essential treatment,” said Dr Ravikanthe Gowda, District Superintendent of police.

Authority to register case

“These vehicles will be more effective during the nights. These vehicles will be helpful not only in the case of emergencies but also to maintain law and order. Moreover, the staff also has the authority to register cases. Other than the highway patrol vehicles within the police commissionerate, already there are 25 Sagar vehicles and 3 Interceptors,” informed Manjunath Shetty, ACP (traffic), Mangaluru.

Article by Hillary Crasta translated into English by Aaron Dmello