On Monday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao launched the 108 Command and Control Centre in Bengaluru, designed to enhance the operation and maintenance of emergency ambulance services throughout the state. This pioneering facility is interoperable with several public service platforms, including the national emergency response support system 112 and various helplines. The centre, located in Basaveshwaranagar, is equipped with GPS technology to track health facilities and ambulances. Currently, Karnataka operates 715 ambulances under the 108 Arogya Kavacha service and an additional 1,000 state sector ambulances. Siddaramaiah emphasized the importance of timely emergency treatment, noting that survival rates significantly increase when care is administered during the critical 'Golden Hour.' The initiative aims to address issues experienced with previous private management of the service and has drawn inspiration from successful emergency response models in Singapore. The command centre operates a 50-seat call centre, ensuring that ambulances are dispatched around the clock.