The National Highways Authority of India has awarded a contract for 150 advanced ambulances which will be deployed at all public funded toll plazas
Bengaluru: As per a report in Times of India, the National Highways Authority of India has awarded a contract for 150 advanced ambulances which will be deployed at all public funded toll plazas.
It is mandated that private players place ambulances at every 50 km distance. It will further be made mandatory that incident management be included to ensure quick response during accidents.
“The ministry is working to ensure deployment of ambulances fitted with GPS, route optimizer to reach the crash spot and nearby hospital quickly. Subsequently the government will go for one toll free number that can be used across all road networks to avail ambulances,” Union road transport and highways secretary Giridhar Aaramane said, as reported by the website.
“The contract is on opex (operational expenditure) model. The payment is linked to meeting the key parameters such as time taken to arrive at the crash spot after getting alert. These ambulances will have two stretchers and necessary facilities,” an official said.
While the national highways account for just 2.5% of the country’s total road network, 35% of such fatalities (54,000) deaths take place on these roads.
The Union government is undertaking efforts with an aim to reduce road accidents and deaths by half before 2025.
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