Chandigarh, Aug 30 — Chandigarh Police has again emerged as the quickest in the country to respond to distress calls, setting a new record of 5.6 minutes on average, according to data compiled by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The UT force surpassed its own 2024 benchmark of 6.31 minutes, further tightening its response this year between January and July. The new figure places Chandigarh well ahead of the national average response time of 18.61 minutes and keeps it at the top of the countrywide rankings. Uttar Pradesh followed in second place with 6.83 minutes, a significant improvement from 9.84 minutes last year.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur credited the achievement to technological upgrades and an expanded PCR fleet. “This achievement is a testament to the city’s investment in advanced technology and efficient coordination between various police units,” she said. The PCR fleet was strengthened in May with 26 new Maruti Ertiga vehicles, raising its numbers to 104. A similar expansion was carried out in 2024 with the addition of 51 Maruti Ertiga and Tata Safari SUVs.
According to MHA’s five-year data, Chandigarh’s PCR response time has steadily improved. It dropped from 7.09 minutes in 2021 to 6.75 minutes in 2022, before rising back to 7.09 minutes in 2023. The figure then fell sharply to 6.31 minutes in 2024 and now to a record 5.6 minutes in 2025.
Officials attributed the improvement to the integration of computer-aided dispatch (CAD) systems and mobile data terminals (MDTs) in PCR vehicles. The CAD ensures the nearest available unit is deployed, while real-time tracking allows the control room to guide vans directly to incident sites.
“These vehicles are responsible for patrolling, responding to emergency calls, and ensuring public safety in real-time. They are strategically stationed across both urban and suburban areas, so no locality is left unattended,” SSP Kaur explained. “The induction of new vehicles is intended to provide faster, more reliable responses to distress calls.”
On average, Chandigarh’s control room receives more than 300 calls daily, ranging from minor disputes to serious crimes such as robberies and accidents. Despite the heavy volume, officials said efficient coordination enables the PCR to handle emergencies within minutes.
The MHA formally recognised Chandigarh’s 5.6-minute average as the best in India this year, acknowledging it as a benchmark for urban policing nationwide.
