Lok Sabha Question No. 1746 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-01
Subject: National policy on Traffic Management for Critical Services
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Yogender Chandolia

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1746

## ANSWERED ON 01 st  AUGUST, 2024

## NATIONAL POLICY ON TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT FOR CRITICAL SERVICES

1746. SHRI YOGENDER CHANDOLIA:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  proposes  a  comprehensive  national policy  on  traffic  management  for  critical  services  like  ambulances, fire brigades, etc. and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  decongest  prime  areas  in the  country  for  easy  accessibility  of  emergency  response  vehicles and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)  and  (b)  1.  Urban  planning  is  a  State  Subject.  As  such,  planning management, execution & development of urban transport systems including traffic  management  for  critical  services  are  done  by respective  State  Governments/  Urban  Local  Bodies  (ULBs)/  Urban Development Authorities. Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has issued  various  guiding  documents  viz.  National  Urban  Transport Policy,  2006,  Metro  Policy  2017  and  Transit  Oriented  Development

Policy to adopt sustainable measures to deal with various transport related issues,including traffic management and congestion.

2.  The  Motor  Vehicles  Act,  1988,  Central  Motor  Vehicles  Rules (CMVR), 1989 and Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017 stipulate provisions regarding traffic management and decongestion for easy  accessibility of emergency  response/  critical services vehicles.
2. (i)      Section 194E of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 states that whoever while driving a motor vehicle fails to draw to the side of  the road, on the approach of a fire service vehicle or of an ambulance or other emergency vehicle as may be specified by the  State  Government,  shall  be  punishable  with  imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with a fine of ten thousand rupees or with both.
3. (ii)     Rule 108 (1) (iv) of CMVR, 1989 permits the use of blinker type of red light with purple glass fitted to an ambulance van used for carrying patients or the warning lamps fitted on Road Ambulance.
4. (iii)     Rule  108  (4)  of  CMVR,  1989  permits  the  use  of  multicoloured red, blue and white light only on vehicles specifically designated  for  such  emergency  and  disaster  management duties as may be specified by the Central Government.
5. (iv)     Rule  119(3)  of  CMVR,  1989  permits  the  use  on  vehicles used as ambulance or for firefighting or salvage purposes or on vehicles  used  by  police  officers  or  operators  of  construction equipment vehicles or officers of the Motor Vehicles Department  in  the  course  of  their  duties  or  on  construction equipment vehicles of such sound signals as may be approved by the registering authority in whose jurisdiction such vehicles are kept.
6. (v)      As  per  sub-regulation  (2)  of  Regulation  27  of  the  Motor Vehicles  (Driving)  Regulations,  2017,  an  emergency  vehicle, while its multi-toned horn and the flasher is on, shall have the right of way over all the other vehicles.

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