The critical 104 Janani Express ambulance service in Rajasthan, a lifeline for pregnant women, remains non-operational due to a major administrative lapse. The service has been grounded since the start of the year after the state government failed to appoint a new operator in time.
Contract Lapse Halts Critical Service
The crisis began when the contract of the previous operator, Modern Emergency Services, expired on December 10, 2025. The firm had reportedly sought a one-month extension, but the state health department could not decide on the matter. Authorities neither extended the existing contract nor floated a fresh tender promptly, leading to a complete stoppage of the vital service.
New Hope as Five Companies Apply
There is now a glimmer of hope for the revival of the service. A senior health department official confirmed that five companies have submitted applications to operate the Janani Express service across the state. This development opens the door for the government to initiate a new tender process and restart the fleet of 600 ambulances.
Employees Protest and Human Cost
The suspension has had severe human and employment consequences. The shutdown has rendered approximately 1,200 ambulance employees unemployed. The Rajasthan Ambulance Employees Union, led by its State President Virendra Singh Shekhawat, has threatened to launch protests against the government over the issue.
Shekhawat directly blamed the medical department's failure to issue a timely tender for the crisis. The most significant impact, however, is on pregnant mothers across Rajasthan who have been deprived of emergency transportation, potentially risking lives due to the administrative delay.
The state government now faces the urgent task of expediting the bidding process to select a new operator and restore this essential public health service without further delay.
