Now Reading: NHAI sets 10-minute response time for highway ambulances
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NHAI sets 10-minute response time for highway ambulances
NHAI has ordered ambulances on national highways to reach accident sites within a 10-km radius in 10 minutes from ticket acceptance, failing which a Rs 10,000 penalty will apply per incident. The…
The Story in Brief
NHAI has ordered ambulances on national highways to reach accident sites within a 10-km radius in 10 minutes from ticket acceptance, failing which a Rs 10,000 penalty will apply per incident. The victim must be taken to the nearest hospital within one hour, also under a Rs 10,000 penalty. The rules, issued on Wednesday, cover around 3,000 ambulances and 1,000 patrolling vehicles across 50,000 km of highways. GPS devices and an IMS dashboard will track compliance. Helpline 1033 is operational. Delays in response had been flagged by the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety and a CAG audit, NHAI said.
The Indian Opinion
The 10-minute ambulance deadline is a welcome step, but Indians have seen many well-intentioned rules gather dust. GPS tracking and Rs 10,000 penalties are concrete, yet enforcement remains the real test. Will the first few delays actually invite fines, or will contractors absorb them as a cost of doing business? The NHAI must publish penalty data publicly every quarter, that number alone will tell us if this is real reform or just another circular.
Sources (2): hindustantimes.com, indiatoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
