Here’s a look inside Mumbai Police’s control room — where calm minds strive to prevail over chaos
The site of the hostage situation in Powai. Pic/By Special Arrangement
During Tuesday’s high-tension Powai hostage crisis, where Rohit Arya allegedly held 16 children and a senior citizen captive, the spotlight was firmly on the officers on the ground. But behind the scenes, it was the Western Region Control Room that worked tirelessly to keep communication steady, coordination seamless, and command decisions clear.
How coordination unfolded
During the Powai standoff, all field communication was routed through the West Region Control Room, which maintained constant contact with the on-ground field coordinator.
“The control room’s primary role is to assess the gravity of a situation and alert senior officers immediately,” said a police officer. Once informed, officers from across the chain of command, from zonal DCPs to additional commissioners, arrive at the spot to take charge of the operation.
In this case, Zone X DCP Datta Nalawade led the on-site operation, staying in direct communication with the additional commissioner of police, assistant commissioners, and the commissioner of police throughout.
Command & communication
“The control room doesn’t give tactical orders at the scene; its role is coordination and logistics,” explained another officer. “If the on-site commander requests backup, extra patrol cars, traffic control, QRT [quick response team] units, or a dog squad, it’s the control room that ensures those resources reach instantly.” During the Powai crisis, the control room also managed traffic diversions, deployed reserve teams, and provided real-time updates to senior officials monitoring the situation.
Mumbai’s control network
The Mumbai Police operates through a multi-layered control room system. The main control room, housed at the commissioner’s office, runs 24/7 in three shifts with about 50 personnel handling distress calls at any given time. Each of the city’s five regions — South, Central, West, North, and East — has its own control room headed by an ACP. These regional units bridge coordination between police stations and field teams, operating under their respective ACP to always ensure seamless communication. Depending on the region’s workload, 10 to 20 trained staffers handle calls, maintain radio links, and mobilise resources across their jurisdictions.
Always on alert
Every emergency in Mumbai — from crime to fires, riots, or floods — first gets logged through the control room, the city’s true communication lifeline. “Our responsibility is simple but critical; the right officer must get the right information at the right time,” an officer stationed at the control room told this newspaper.
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