The Kerala Police has launched a new safety initiative called “Nirbhaya Nisha” to enhance protection for women travelling at night across the state. The programme was introduced as part of activities marking International Women’s Day, with the aim of ensuring safe travel for women who commute late for work, studies, or other needs.
Under this initiative, women travelling between 9 PM and 5 AM can receive quick police assistance through multiple emergency systems. These include the 112 emergency helpline, the SOS feature on the POL-APP mobile application, and coordinated support from district control rooms and patrol teams.
The programme also strengthens night-time policing by deploying additional highway patrol units and pink patrol vehicles, which are specially tasked with ensuring women’s safety in public areas and transport routes. Police authorities are also using technology such as control-room monitoring and hotspot analysis to identify locations that may require stronger surveillance.
Events and awareness activities were organised in several districts during the launch. In Kochi, a “Women’s Walk” and self-defence training sessions were conducted to promote awareness about the initiative and encourage women to use available safety services.
Officials said the main goal of the “Nirbhaya Nisha” project is to provide rapid police response during emergencies and improve the sense of safety for women travelling at night, especially those returning home after late work shifts.
Authorities believe that combining emergency response systems, technology, and increased police presence will help create a safer environment for women across Kerala during night-time travel.
