The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday directed the state government to furnish details of installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) in 108 health services run by the government as well as ambulances owned by private operators.
The court asked the government about the action taken to grant traffic clearance till the new proposed Integrated Hi-Tech Ambulance Services project is implemented by connecting private ambulances with state health services control rooms and traffic police control rooms. Through the ongoing tender process.
Chief Justice Prasanna B. Varle and Justice Ashok S. Kinagi issued the direction in March 2020 while hearing a PIL filed by Bharat Punarthana Trust, Bengaluru, seeking better arrangements for movement of ambulances in the city.
As pointed out by the public prosecutor that the Commissioner of Road Safety had issued a circular in March 2020 for mandatory installation of GPS in ambulances and asked the Regional Transport Officers to submit a monthly report in this regard, the Bench noted the data of the establishment. Manga for GPS in ambulance
The bench also asked the government to state whether there was any lapse in the installation of GPS in the ambulance and if so, the action initiated.
The court noted that in 2020, the Bengaluru city police commissioner had suggested that all private ambulances should be linked to the state health control room to ensure that private ambulances are also given traffic clearance on priority during emergencies. and to prevent misuse of ambulances.
The bench also suggested that it would be appropriate for the government to issue directions to ambulance manufacturers to install GPS in vehicles at the manufacturing stage.