NHAI sets 10-minute response time for highway ambulances; ₹10,000 penalty for delay
The rebuilt stretch will carry 8-10 ambulances a day and is designed to drain rainwater without disrupting traffic, officials said.
- On Wednesday, the National Highways Authority of India reopened the service lane of the Chennai-Bengaluru National Highway near Christian Medical College at Puttuthakku after relaying it with concrete to prevent future monsoon inundation.
- Heavy monsoon rains in December 2025 washed away the previous bitumen carriageway, forcing closure. Work on the new 300 metres long and 20 ft wide concrete surface commenced after Assembly polls in April.
- Local farmers and emergency services rely on this route, with 8-10 ambulances using the stretch daily to reach CMC. Motorists previously faced significant difficulties navigating huge potholes on the carriageway.
- Separately, the State-owned NHAI introduced strict new emergency response guidelines on Wednesday, mandating that ambulances reach accident sites within a 10-minute window. Failure to meet this timeline incurs a penalty of ₹10,000 per incident.
- To support these benchmarks, the agency installed AIS-140 compliant GPS devices and provided "Dedicated Android Mobile Device with loT Sim" to all on-road units. Compliance will be verified through the IMS Care Dashboard.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Ambulance to reach highway accident spot in 10 minutes, hospital in 1 hour
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has introduced stringent new policy guidelines, mandating ambulances deployed on national highways to reach accident sites within a 10-km radius in 10 minutes and transfer victims to the nearest hospital within one hour, with penalties for non-compliance.
Hindustan Times
The Hindu Business LineNHAI sets 10-minute response time for highway ambulances; ₹10,000 penalty for delay
NHAI sets 10-minute response time for highway ambulances; ₹10,000 penalty for delay
NHAI New Ambulance Rules: 10-Minute Crash Response, 1-Hour Hospital Deadline On Highways | 📰 LatestLY
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has tightened emergency response rules for ambulances operating on national highways, introducing strict timelines for reaching accident sites and transporting victims to hospitals. The new guidelines also prescribe financial penalties for delays, refusal of emergency tickets and non-compliance with tracking requirements. 📰 NHAI New Ambulance Rules: 10-Minute Crash Response, 1-Hour Hospital Deadli…
10 Minutes To Reach Crash Site: New Rules For Highway Ambulances
The new norms give ambulances two minutes to start moving after accepting an emergency alert and an hour to get an accident victim to the nearest hospital. Delays can attract penalties of up to Rs 10,000 per incident.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 72% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
