Government Initiatives to Enhance Ambulance Response Times in Road Accidents
New Measures for Ambulance Services
New Delhi, Dec 17: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, expressed his alarm regarding the alarming rate of fatalities resulting from road accidents. On Wednesday, he announced that the government intends to supply modern ambulances to states, stipulating that these vehicles must arrive at accident scenes within a 10-minute window.
During the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Gadkari elaborated that these ambulances would be outfitted with specialized equipment to assist in the swift evacuation of victims from accident sites.
He also mentioned that states are encouraged to implement a unified helpline number for ambulance services. “The Centre is prepared to provide between 100 to 150 ambulances, which states can manage within their existing frameworks,” he stated.
Clarifying the Centre's involvement, Gadkari noted that managing ambulance services does not fall under the purview of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
“We have resolved to establish memoranda of understanding with states based on distance. This initiative will ensure that each state receives high-quality ambulances, with the stipulation that they must reach accident sites within 10 minutes,” he explained.
The Minister admitted that despite various initiatives, the government has struggled to make a significant impact on reducing road accident fatalities.
He was responding to a query from senior Congress leader Pramod Tiwari, who highlighted a recent tragic incident on the Yamuna Expressway on December 16, which resulted in the deaths of 13 individuals.
“In India, approximately 500,000 road accidents occur annually, leading to nearly 180,000 fatalities. This is a grave situation. We are making concerted efforts to lower these numbers, but success has been elusive,” Gadkari remarked, noting that around 66% of those who die in these accidents are aged between 18 and 34.
Gadkari outlined that the government has implemented measures such as enhancing road engineering, tightening law enforcement, and increasing penalties for traffic violations.
However, he pointed out that human behavior remains a significant hurdle and emphasized the necessity of adhering to traffic regulations.
He also highlighted the critical role of prompt medical intervention, referencing a study from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) which indicated that nearly 50,000 lives could have been saved with immediate medical care.
In light of this study, Gadkari announced that the government plans to recognize individuals who assist accident victims by designating them as “Raahveers” and providing them with a cash reward of ₹25,000 each.