The Chhattisgarh government has informed the High Court that 375 new ambulances are now operational across all 33 districts of the state. The update was submitted as part of a suo motu Public Interest Litigation initiated over concerns regarding poor maintenance and lack of fitness certificates for the 108 ambulance fleet.
Details of the New Ambulance Fleet
In an affidavit placed before the court, the health department stated that a fresh tender process was completed and EMRI Green Health Services was selected to operate the service. The new fleet includes 300 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances, 70 Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances, and five neonatal ambulances, all currently deployed under the revamped 108 service system.
Addressing Previous Concerns
The suo motu PIL was initiated after reports highlighted poor maintenance and expired fitness certificates of the earlier ambulance fleet. The new deployment aims to ensure timely emergency medical services across the state, particularly in rural and remote areas.
The government emphasized that the new ambulances are equipped with modern medical equipment and are regularly maintained to meet safety standards. The health department also assured the court that strict monitoring mechanisms are in place to prevent any recurrence of previous issues.
This initiative is expected to significantly improve emergency response times and healthcare accessibility for residents of Chhattisgarh.
