Despite repeated directions from the Union Ministry of Road Transport and the Supreme Court-appointed Road Safety Committee, the Odisha Transport Department has failed to implement a crucial directive aimed at saving lives of accident victims. The order required state-run ambulances to be integrated with private ambulance services to ensure timely medical assistance within the “Golden Hour.”
Rising Road Accidents, Delayed Response
Road accident fatalities in Odisha have been steadily rising. Experts warn that many lives could be saved if accident victims are shifted to hospitals within the first hour of trauma. The Centre had instructed states to link government and private ambulance services nearly two years ago, but Odisha’s Transport Department has yet to put the system into action.
Commitments Made, But Not Delivered
Though the issue was discussed multiple times in meetings of the State Road Safety Council, and the previous government even announced swift implementation, bureaucratic lapses have delayed the rollout. Senior lawyer and road safety expert Subrat Kumar Nanda has now written to the Chief Secretary, Transport Secretary, and Health Secretary demanding immediate enforcement of the directive.
Victims Left Without Timely Help
Nanda pointed out that in several accident cases across Odisha, including in Bhubaneswar-Cuttack, injured persons could not be shifted to hospitals in time due to lack of coordinated ambulance services. Even the 108 ambulance system reportedly fails to respond on time in many cases.
Demand for Integrated System
Highlighting the humanitarian aspect, Nanda urged the state to immediately establish a portal connecting both government and private ambulance services. He also suggested that victims who use private ambulances should be reimbursed from the state’s Road Safety Fund.
Free Treatment and Wider Access
Nanda also recommended that accident victims be taken not only to government hospitals but also to empaneled private hospitals that are authorized to provide free treatment for the first 48 hours. He demanded public disclosure of the list of such hospitals and installation of boards in government hospitals, private hospitals, and police stations to spread awareness.
Expected Impact
If the state implements these measures, the letter claims, road accident deaths in Odisha could be reduced by nearly 30 percent. Experts say that ignoring such directives is costing precious lives and putting the government’s commitment to public safety in question.