The 24-hour-hotline combining Russia's emergency services will be operational in nine regions and all major cities by the end of 2013.
The freephone number, 112, combines those of the fire service, 01, the police, 02, ambulances, 03. However, all of the separate numbers will continue to work during the transition period, Emergency Situations Minister Vladimir Puchkov said.
The hotline will be available from landlines as well as mobile telephones, RIA Novosti reported.
The new service has already been piloted successfully in the republic of Tatarstan and the Kursk region Puchkov said.
In March 2013 the Federal Target Program approved creating a 112 emergency number. It is expected that by 2017 the system will work in 67 regions, for which 40 billion rubles ($1.2 billion) will be allocated from the budget.
Telecom operators can also give information about the location of their subscribers to the emergency services, in accordance with legislation that was submitted to the State Duma in mid-July.
The new system allows the emergency services to reduce their response time and select the most suitable means of providing assistance.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.