Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Vadodara Police Launch App to Track Navratri Revellers
Vadodara police have made an app for people who want extra help getting home after Garba.
A person can register their phone number and an emergency contact.
At a participating venue, they scan a QR code so police can follow their trip on a map.
The app can flag someone if they do not get home in the expected time.
Police can then call that person or their emergency contact.
If someone needs help right away, they can hold the SOS button for two seconds.
The police say an emergency vehicle can be sent after an SOS.
The app is a pilot project, and police are also arranging staff and other safety measures at Garba venues.
Vadodara district police are piloting the Navratri Suraksha App to help users travel home safely after Garba.
Users register a mobile number and emergency contact, then scan a venue QR code to share their journey with the police control room.
If users do not reach within an estimated time, control room staff can contact them or their emergency contact; users can also trigger an SOS by holding a button for two seconds.
Police identified 674 Garba venues and plan to deploy 2,875 personnel, with help desks and women officers monitoring major events.
The police say they tested the system and are exploring WhatsApp integration to help response vehicles receive locations and reach incidents faster.
- Who
- Vadodara district police, led by Superintendent of Police Sushil Agrawal, and people attending Garba who choose to use the app.
- What
- A pilot safety app uses venue QR codes, location tracking, missed-arrival alerts and an SOS button.
- When
- The app is being rolled out for Navratri; police tested the system on Saturday.
- Where
- Garba venues and travel routes within Vadodara district police jurisdiction.
- Why
- To provide additional safety for people travelling home after Garba and help police respond to requests for assistance.
- App
- Navratri Suraksha App, designed in-house by Vadodara district police.
- Registration
- One-time registration using a mobile number and emergency contact.
- Venue check-in
- Users scan a QR code displayed at participating Garba venues.
- SOS
- Holding the SOS button for two seconds sends an alert and the user's location to police.
- Garba venues identified
- 674 in total: 84 large events and 590 smaller gatherings.
- Festival security deployment
- 2,875 personnel, including police, Gujarat Raksha Dal personnel and home guards.
- Control room team
- A team of 48 people at the Netram Command and Control room.
- Existing response time
- Police said their 112 vehicles currently take about 10 minutes to respond to calls.