Pune city will soon have its own state-of-the-art disaster management control room for tackling any possible disasters, including situations arising from terrorist attacks or those from external elements, and ensuring public safety. The facility will be operational on the second floor of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) main building within a few months. "The work on establishing the control room of the disaster management cell has already started and it will be completed in a couple of months. The state-of-the-art control room will improve the handling of disaster situations in the city," said Ganesh Sonune, civic disaster management officer. The control room will be spread in a 7,400 sq feet area and would include a conference room, advanced control room, server room, advisory room and restrooms for staff along with latest telecommunication facilities, he said. A dedicated team of 50 people will be deputed round the clock to keep a check on activities in the city through a large wall TV display having live feed from the CCTV installed across the city, the officer said. The control room will also have a telecommunication system to take up citizen's complaints and direct it to quick response teams for swift action. "The mock drill that was carried out in the city on Wednesday gave us a glimpse of the operations. The disaster management cell plays the most crucial role of coordinating between various agencies for fast rescue operations. The civil defence officers have advised us to introduce additional features for more efficient functioning of the disaster management cell and effective outcome," he said. The control room designed on the lines of the one set up by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will help in handling any situation of terrorist attack or attack from outside forces, fire incidents, flooding, earthquake, accidents or any other disaster situation, Sonune said. Rashmee Lokhande, Chief Officer of Disaster Management Department of BMC, said that their control room has been effective during many situations, including Mumbai terrorist attacks, flood situations and other disasters. "The PMC approached us to set up a state-of-art disaster management control room and we have provided them with all possible guidance. This will help them handle situations effectively in time of need in Pune," she said. The BMC control room has two different telecommunication systems as an alternative, Hotline to authorities concerned, faster internet connectivity, TV wall with live feed of CCTV installed and plan to procure satellite phones.
