Ambulance services, considered an essential lifeline during medical emergencies, are reportedly facing significant operational challenges due to the Regional Transport Office's (RTO) new rule which imposes speed limits on ambulances has raised serious concerns about the timely transport of critically ill patients, potentially endangering lives.

Under the RTO's e-system, ambulances exceeding prescribed speed limits are being issued e-challan fines. The Mahashakti Ambulance Association Maharashtra Rajya Sanghatana has strongly opposed this policy, arguing that it compromises patient care. “Delays in reaching the hospital due to speed restrictions can result in fatalities. The RTO administration will bear the responsibility for such accidents”, said Mukund Kamble, Raigad District Working President of the association.

Ambulance drivers, often risking their lives to save patients, have condemned the e-challan policy, stating that it disregards the urgency of emergency medical services. “We cannot gamble with patients' lives by adhering to arbitrary speed limits. Penalizing ambulances for speeding while saving lives is unacceptable”, Kamble added.

The association has demanded that the RTO immediately exempt ambulances from e-challan fines. Failure to address this issue, they warn, could lead to a nationwide protest, with ambulance drivers and owners halting services. “If the administration does not revise this policy, we will be left with no choice but to take our protest to the streets, putting patient transport services on hold across India”, Kamble stated.