Lok Sabha Question No. 4086 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-19
Subject: Ambulances and Safety Services on National Highways
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Ms Iqra Choudhary

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4086 ANSWERED ON 19 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

AMBULANCES AND SAFETY SERVICES ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS 4086. MS IQRA CHOUDHARY:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of ambulances deployed on National Highways (NHs) in the last three years, year-wise;
- (b) the criteria for deployment of ambulances on National Highways;
- (c) whether any audits are being conducted to assess the quality of emergency care provided by these ambulances and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the other steps taken by the Government to ensure the safety and security of passengers on National Highways?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) Ambulances are deployed as a part of the Incident Management System  on  the  National  Highways,  which  in  turn  is  a  part  of  the Operation & Maintenance executed through the contractors/

## Concessionaires.  Number  of  centralized  ambulances  deployed  in  the last three years  are as under:

|   Sl. No. | Financial Year   |   Number of Ambulances |
|-----------|------------------|------------------------|
|         1 | 2021-22          |                    930 |
|         2 | 2022-23          |                   1003 |
|         3 | 2023-24          |                   1074 |

- (b)    Ambulances are stationed either at the toll plazas or at locations found suitable. Generally, at least  one ambulance is provided on the project  highway  irrespective  of  its  length  and  for  longer  stretches ambulances are generally deployed at an interval of 50-60 km.
- (c) The  Field Offices as well as the supervision consultants regularly  conduct inspection of the availability of equipment as well as manpower in the Ambulances deployed on NH stretches.
- (d)  (i) Road safety has been integrated into DPR stage itself by means of road safety consultants and road safety auditors.
- (ii) Completion of Safety works for issuance of Provisional Completion Certificate has been made mandatory from 22.09.2022.
- (iii)     Financial  powers  have  been  delegated  to  Regional  Officers  for construction of FoBs including provisioning of Lifts/Ramps.
- (iv)     Capacity  building  on  safety  measures  through  training  of  field officers  /Concessionaires  /  Contractors  /  Consultants  engaged  in project works throughout India.
- (vii) Pedestrian Markings are marked  at  median  openings  and junctions,  Footpaths/Walkways  constructed  in  Urban/inhabited  areas, and Street lighting in inhabited section of NHs to ensure the safety of pedestrian on NHs.

(viii) Road Safety Week  is observed every year for spreading awareness about safer behavior of road users on National Highways wherein  the  following  major  activities  are  carried  out  for  creating awareness and enhancement of Safety of Road users:

-  Conducting  of  Walkathon,  Exhibition  on  Road  safety  along  with Essay writing/Poster making competition/Nukkad Natak and Mass awareness events.
-  Distribution  of  pamphlets  etc.  to  road  users  at  Toll  plazas, wayside amenities, food stall points during the Safety Week.
-  Awareness drives for Road Safety through Flex banners, Workshop, and Discussion.
-  Retro reflective sheeting to avoid rear-end collision and installation  of  reflectors/retro-reflective  tapes  on  truck,  tractortrolley, animal cart, etc. at toll plazas.
-  Motivation and road side safety awareness programme for school /college students through Quiz competitions, drawing competitions, Essay writing and speech competitions, etc.
-  Special drives to  stop  overloading  along  with  checking  of  overspeeding, unauthorized parking, drunk driving, etc. with the help of police department.
-  Health cum Eye Check-up Camp and distribution of eye glasses for truck/bus drivers operating on NHs.
-  Distribution of pamphlets, and the display of safety banners.
-  Checking fatigue of truck drivers and educating them about road safety.
-  Road  safety  awareness  messages  on  social  media,  such  as Twitter,  Instagram  and  Facebook  are  being  spread  on  regular basis.

*****