Maharashtra Plans Digital Integration of Government & Private Ambulances

Sarnaik also proposed equipping ambulances with cameras and telecommunications facilities. The system would allow doctors at hospitals to monitor patients remotely and provide treatment guidance while they are being transported.

Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has directed officials to integrate the state-run 108 ambulance service with private ambulances on a digital platform to ensure that the nearest available ambulance can reach road accident victims quickly.

The proposal was discussed during the 13th meeting of the State Road Safety Council at Mantralaya on Tuesday. Sarnaik emphasized the need for faster emergency medical response during the critical “golden hour” following a road accident, according to an official release.

The meeting was held after a gap of more than three years, although the council is required to meet twice a year. Public Health Minister Prakash Abitkar, Public Works Minister Shivendra Raje Bhosale, the Transport Department’s Additional Chief Secretary, the Transport Commissioner and other senior officials attended the meeting.

Sarnaik also proposed equipping ambulances with cameras and telecommunications facilities. The system would allow doctors at hospitals to monitor patients remotely and provide treatment guidance while they are being transported.

The minister further called for a policy covering air ambulance services along the Nagpur-Mumbai Samruddhi Expressway, other expressways, coastal roads and remote areas.

The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the PM-Rahat scheme, under which eligible accident victims can receive cashless treatment of up to Rs 1.5 lakh per person for a maximum of seven days. Sarnaik directed officials to ensure the scheme is implemented effectively.

To address road safety and vehicle-related violations, officials proposed a pilot project using electronic “weigh-in-motion” sensors to identify overloaded vehicles. The council also discussed remote-sensing technology to detect pollution from moving vehicles and the integration of pollution-under-control certificates with vehicle and e-challan systems.

According to the state government, road accident deaths in Maharashtra declined by 6% between January and July 2026 compared with the corresponding period in 2025, despite an increase in the number of vehicles.

Two-wheeler riders accounted for 60% of road accident deaths in Maharashtra in 2025, while pedestrians represented 22% of fatalities.

Eleven districts in the state have also been included in the “Zero Fatality District” initiative, which covers 100 critical districts nationwide in collaboration with the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and SaveLIFE Foundation. The districts are Nashik Rural, Pune Rural, Ahilyanagar, Solapur Rural, Jalgaon, Satara, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Rural, Beed, Nagpur Rural, Kolhapur and Dhule.

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