‘Open separate track for ambulance in 4 weeks’

The summer vacation division bench, comprising Justices R. Mahadevan and Justice M Govindaraj, before whom a PIL in this regard came up, said “This court is of the view that the relief claimed in the writ petition is reasonable and therefore the respondents are directed to consider the representation of the petitioner dated June 1, 2016 and April 20, 2017 positively and take action within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of the copy of this order.” 

AP Suryaprakasam, an advocate practicing at the Madras High Court, citing the numerous accidents that occurred on national highways owing to rash and drunk driving, submitted that it was essential to provide quick and immediate medical treatment within hours as every delay in providing medical aid to the victims could prove costly to their lives.

But, adding up to the woes was the lack of dedicated and separate toll gates for ambulances and other public utility services, which usually delayed such vehicles from reaching the accident spot in time, Suryaprakasam said. 

Referring to his representation in this regard to NHAI, he sought the court for a direction to take immediate steps to provide separate lanes in tollgates and booths for ambulances, fire engines and all other Government vehicles.