Pramesh S Jain
In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India,the Bengaluru City Police has launched a multilingual AI-powered upgrade to its emergency response system,Namma 112,aimed at breaking language barriers during distress situations.
The city police introduced the Multilingual Voice AI for Nationwide Key Interventions (VANKI),an advanced solution that enables callers to communicate in their preferred language while seeking emergency assistance.
The system can interpret and relay information in real time, helping call handlers respond faster and with greater accuracy.
The initiative comes in response to Bengaluru’s diverse and global population,where residents include people from across India and abroad.
Officials noted that language differences often delay emergency response,and the new integration ensures that such barriers no longer hinder access to help.
Developed in collaboration with Monday Ventures and Aeos,the system currently supports more than 10 languages.
These include Indian languages such as Bengali, Gujarati,Odia,Manipuri,Kashmiri,Nepali and Assamese, along with international languages like Spanish,French and Arabic.Authorities said additional languages will be introduced in phases.
Police officials said the upgraded system will significantly improve response time, clarity in communication and accuracy in deploying emergency services,especially in high-pressure situations.
With this move,Bengaluru City Police has reinforced its focus on inclusive and citizen-centric policing,leveraging technology to make emergency services more accessible,efficient and responsive for all sections of society.
