BPL Mobile empowers Mumbai Police to track drunk drivers

Mumbai, November 21, 2008: In a sincere attempt to take up their share of social responsibility for a safer Mumbai, BPL Mobile, Mumbai’s leading mobile service provider, had teamed up with Hyderabad based IMImobile to help Mumbai Police track drunk drivers. Within two months of having being rolled out, the service has already proved its efficiency to serve the Mumbai Police.

Launched in September, the service helps Mumbai Police keep track of drunk drivers, by allowing instant access to their previous records, ensuring repeat offenders do not slip through the net and new offenders are logged on the system from the outset. When the Traffic Policeman stops a vehicle-driver, all he needs to do is SMS the driver’s license number to a confidential shortcode, to which the cop receives a prompt SMS in return. In a Scenario where the driver is a repeat offender, the SMS reflects details such as an account of the earlier offences while driving, license and vehicle number, the date & location of the offence/ s, and the type of offence he/she was booked for. The police can then instantly update his record and also slap a suitable fine or file a case on him. If the database reflects no previous details the Police would book him fresh, add a fresh record with this current information which will get reflected next time the offender is caught. The service employs an easily accessible mobile database (record) and an interface with add record and update record functions.

Within two months of the service being rolled out, Mumbai Police agree that it has indeed empowered them. On the efficiency of the service, Mr. Harish Baijal, Deputy Commissioner Traffic Mumbai police commented, “With the support from BPL mobile & IMImobile, our officers can now trace previous convictions of drunk driving within a few seconds. This technology has been very beneficial and will help us maintain more discipline on Mumbai’s roads”. Showing concern on the firm measures required to curb the offence , he further added, “It is the time of the year when we as a force gear up to ensure that people’s safety is not compromised due to their own or other’s carelessness. Past statistics show that there has always been a sudden rise in the number of convicted cases in this period of time, from around 800 in September-October to more than 1000 in November and December. Having BPL Mobile come to our aid with a path-breaking solution we definitely are equipped to serve with more efficiency.”

BPL Mobile in association with IMI Mobile developed this application especially for Mumbai Police, providing them with an end to end solution so as to enable them to access the drinking and driving offences’ records speedily, crucially and at the scene of the offence via their mobile phones. Mr. Sunzay Passari, vice president, value added services, BPL Mobile said, “It is a heartfelt endeavor of BPL Mobile towards every Mumbaikar’s safety and hoping they have a wonderful and hazard free festive season and that they step in the New Year with the same revelry”.

An added benefit of the solution is the fact the system is able to send out SMS alerts on known offenders to the entire police units, especially useful during busy festival or holiday season. The database is confidential with only top ranking officials who have a complete access to it. “We are pleased to able to offer this bespoke solution to Mumbai Police free of charge,” said Mr. Vishwanath Alluri, IMImobile Chairman, Founder and CEO. “Drink-driving is a dangerous crime and any help we can provide to our busy Police force can only be a good thing. We hope to extend this solution to other parts of the country.”

On the easily accessible mobile database and interface, Inspector Shri Dayanand Gavas and Inspector Shri Bhagat of Vakola traffic division said, “The service was very easy to adhere to right from when it was introduced to us. It helps us detect repeat offenders who need to be checked then and there for their careless behavior.” Remarking on the innovative service, Mrs. Lata Patode, a vigilant citizen said, “The launch of such a service is commendable, I hope it helps keep check on people who don’t understand the value of their or other’s lives.”

BPL Mobile is in the process of developing this valuable service further wherein the provision of onsite registration of offences will not be restricted only to drinking and driving. The service will assist Mumbai Police to take the same action for other traffic- offences like rash driving, jumping signal, lane cutting, no parking, etc.

About BPL Mobile

Having started its services in 1995, BPL Mobile distinguishes itself as the longest serving telecom brand in the country, currently operates in Mumbai, India and today serves over 1 million happy and satisfied subscribers. In the Voice and Data Mobile User Satisfaction Survey 2007, which assessed Cellular Mobile Services across all GSM and CDMA service providers, BPL Mobile emerged as the cellular service provider in Mumbai delivering the highest customer satisfaction. BPL Mobile is one of the very few cellular service providers nationally to have met all benchmarks on parameters set by TRAI and we stand alongside only two other operators across the country who surpassed the stiff 90% qualifying benchmark by TRAI. Being in the service industry and customer centricity being at the core, BPL Mobile also ranked #1 in Customer care. Since 2005 we have consistently excelled and led the pack for three years running, going to prove how well we understand customer service. We have consistently met and exceeded TRAI benchmarks according to the Report on the Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicators, 2007. BPL Mobile also credits itself as the first operator in the country to offer GPRS/MMS, Caller Ring Tunes and also launch IN (Intelligent Network).

For further information, please contact:

Malvika, Hanmer MS&L – Mumbai

67524650

malvika {at} hanmermsl(.)com