Mangaluru: Omni ambulance owners urge revocation of ban, to hold protest on Jun 13


Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Jun 6: In the wake of the state government's order to ban use of Maruti Omni as ambulance, the Ambulance Owners' and Drivers' Association will hold a protest march from Jyoti circle to DC's office here on June 13, demanding to revoke the order, informed Gangadhar, president of the association.

In an order dated May 10, the state government had directed the RTO to stop and de-register Maruti Omni van as emergency response services ambulance in the state. The move has caused confusion and perplexity among Omni ambulance owners and drivers.

Addressing media persons here on Tuesday June 6, Yogesh Shetty Jeppu who runs his own ambulance said, "Ambulance has been used to carry patients in emergency situations. Even though 108 ambulance has been introduced, it is very hard for a tempo traveller (108 ambulance vehicle) to move through narrow roads, and most of the time, 108 ambulance service takes help of Maruti Omni ambulance as it is very convienient to move through narrow roads.

"Ban was ordered just because Maruti Omni is a dangerous vehicle and frequently meets with accidents, but what about other vehicles? They too meet with accidents, but it does not mean you should ban every vehicle for that reason. There is bike ambulance also, which again is an accident-prone vehicle. It is impossible to convert Maruti Omni ambulance into commercial vehicle," he said.

Owner of Ganesh Ambulance Gangadhar said, "The information came to light only when I visited the RTO on June 1, and an officer informed me about the ban on Maruti Omni ambulance. Such sudden ban is unacceptable. We should have been informed prior to the ban. What will be the situation of those drivers who have availed huge amounts of loans to run these ambulances for their daily bread? What is the solution? On June 5, memorandum was submitted to RTA officer urging revocation of the ban. We will also submit memorandum to the deputy commissioner, local MLAs and MPs demanding the same."

The notification was issued by the state transport department on the recommendation of health and family welfare and Ayush services, Bengaluru, technical standing committee, ministry of road transport and highways, department of road transport and highways, government of India. The order says that Maruti Omni is not safe as it frequently meets with accidents and also that there are no functional requirements for road ambulances in it.

However, in a circular, the RTO clarified that the ban does not affect Omni ambulances that are already registered and apply for renewal of fitness certificates (FC). The RTO said that it has directed the authorities concerned not to register new Maruti Omni vehicles as ambulances, adding that the ban is only registering new Omni ambulances and not on issuing fitness certificates.

Secretary Radhika, Prashanth, Prasad, Rakshith and others were present at the press meet.

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Rudolf Rodrigues, Mum/Man

    Wed, Jun 07 2017

    Could be the influence of Omni competitors since it is a big market!?

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • KRPrabhu, Bangalore

    Wed, Jun 07 2017

    Travelling by bus,Volvo bus,car,train,flight too is dangerous.whether going to ban these also..? Risk integral part of life.Only thing is that everybody involved so hold be responsible and take risk and act with utmost care.

    Now by banning Omni vehicle govt has rendered hundred jobless who were leading a truthful peaceful life. Proving job is utmost priority of any govt but here quite reverse.Now parents will send their children by auto which is more dangerous than Omni.Those rich will send their ward by buds paying huge fare. Many Omni drivers,ambulance owners might have taken loan from banks and now these loans will become NPAs ...

    Govt should take some crucial discesons looking into pros and cons.Somd middle path approach is required to hammer out the problem now created.

    DisAgree [3] Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • G R PRABHUJI, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 07 2017

    Convert all omni ambulance into school van and Ban All RIKSHAW carrying more then 3 children. This method will work out them.

    DisAgree Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Af,,, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 07 2017

    RTO can you people pls expalin us what is the meaning of FC ? according to you.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Mangalurian, Mangaluru

    Wed, Jun 07 2017

    I don't believe that the vehicle in question - by itself - is accident-prone.

    In my thinking, te problem of accidents is caused by the age of the drivers.

    When under-30s drive a vehicle - any type of vehicle - the chance of an accident is extremely high.

    This is proven around the world with statistics showing that younger the age, the greater the lack of road-ethics.

    Drivers in late teens and early 20s have accidents all the time because of speeding and other issues.

    So, if anything, the Government must stop young people from driving any public transport vehicles, including ambulances, rather than banning the vehicles themselves.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rehna, Mangalore

    Wed, Jun 07 2017

    Any vehicles are not safe in India. Why only Omini. First driving on Mangalor roads is dangerous because of the Autos and the 2 wheelers. Do any vehicles follow lane discipline. If lane descipline is followed accidents can be averted. What the police has do is , wherever cross roads meets the main road exit should'be given only after 1 Km and not every 200 meters.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vishal, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 06 2017

    It is a misnomer to call such vehicles ambulances. Other than some place to sleep, what do they have? Absolutely no equipments to deal with any emergency. It is a kind of conveyance, that's all.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Desi Jawan, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 06 2017

    Omini is most unsafe vehicle even for personal and family use. It has very bad safety assessment records and is not suitable for speedy rides due to its weight and centre of gravity issues. It is so tiny which can't even accommodate the emergency treatment equipments and medical personnel. In first instant those who permitted this vehicle to be used as an Ambulance have made a gravious mistake. Now those who investment little with big dreams of making big money from serious patients in short term are in uncomfortable position.

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lakshmi, Mangaluru Gorigudda

    Tue, Jun 06 2017

    Omni is an unsafe vehicle. It has no front protection and is a delicate vehicle and its not at suitable as a ambulance. However good driver you may be Omni in my view is a real unsafe vehicle

    DisAgree Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • AR Kunil, Mangalore

    Tue, Jun 06 2017

    Omni is dangerously unsafe when speeding.
    If at all needed, Omni should be allowed in rural village roads with speed governors to check speeding.
    On the national highways and the state highways speeding Omni vans are unsafe.

    DisAgree Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • praveen, mangalore

    Tue, Jun 06 2017

    Omni as school vans also should be slowly phased out. over next 5 years may be.

    DisAgree Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lakshmi Wilson R, Mangaluru

    Tue, Jun 06 2017

    I am of the opinion that Omni vehicles are not good as ambulances. We need a stronger and safer vehicles as ambulances. Omni vehicle last year caused death of many innocent children at Kundpaaura area. I think the onwers of Omni can shift to some other vehicle and convert into ambulances.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Mangaluru: Omni ambulance owners urge revocation of ban, to hold protest on Jun 13



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