EMRI to expand to 25 more locations by June

The institute plans to cover entire Andhra by Aug '06

The Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI), a not-for-profit institute providing emergency response services within Andhra Pradesh, will be launching its operations in 25 more locations by the end of June 2006. The institute plans to cover the entire state by August 2006.

Addressing the media on Monday, Venkat Changavalli, chief executive officer of EMRI, said, "We have received 12 lakh calls since August 2005 with 35,000 of them being emergency calls. We have saved 2,200 lives in the state and plan to save 20 lakh lives a year nationally by 2010."

Incidentally, only four per cent of the calls that EMRI receives on its toll-free number (108) from Hyderabad are genuine emergency calls.

EMRI currently operates in 25 locations across the state. It plans to expand in 25 more locations shortly. Maharashtra, Delhi and Pondicherry have also evinced interest in launching similar services in their respective locations.

For this purpose, EMRI is proposing to set up an authority at a national level which could pool in funds for extensive implementation. Franchisees are another option that is being considered for expansion to other states.

EMRI had got an initial funding of Rs 34 crore from the Raju brothers of Satyam Computers. Around Rs 28 crore has already been utilised so far. "We are contemplating charging those customers who have the ability to pay Rs 300-500 per trip for sustaining the services," Changavalli said.

Meanwhile, the institute is also planning to tie up with R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Centre, Baltimore, for conducting applied research in areas like head injuries, multiple trauma, cardiac stroke, and fire accidents.

It will also be entering into an alliance with Emergency Management Institute, US, for training its employees.