The Maharashtra government is considering establishing trauma care centres at intervals of around 100 kilometres along state and national highways as part of a broader strategy to reduce fatalities from road accidents.
The proposal was discussed during a recent multi-department meeting on road safety, following concerning figures compiled by the state transport department. Between January 2023 and July 2026, around 129,000 road accidents were recorded across Maharashtra, resulting in nearly 56,000 deaths. The figures translate to approximately 43 fatalities every day.
“We are planning trauma care centres along with faster and smoother availability of ambulances which could be life-saving during the ‘golden hour’,” said an official from the transport department who is privy to the discussions.
The “golden hour” refers to the critical period immediately following a road accident, when timely medical intervention can significantly improve the chances of survival for seriously injured victims. Officials said improving emergency medical response has therefore become a key focus of the state’s road safety strategy.
As part of the proposed measures, the transport department plans to acquire between 80 and 100 ambulances. These vehicles are expected to be stationed at accident-prone locations and identified black spots, including stretches of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Samruddhi Mahamarg, highways across the Konkan region and remote tribal areas.
The ambulances will be purchased using the state’s Road Safety Fund and will primarily provide immediate stabilisation and first aid before transporting injured people to the nearest appropriate trauma facility.
The government is also developing a mobile application or website intended to provide real-time information about ambulance availability and nearby hospitals. The proposed platform could allow accident victims and first responders to locate and book ambulances during emergencies.
“Information on hospitals will be integrated into the platform, and private ambulance operators will be encouraged to register themselves on it,” an official said. “Ambulances registered on the platform will be required to have essential first-aid and medical facilities along with services of doctors and nurses.”
The transport department already maintains information on ambulances registered with regional transport offices across Maharashtra. Officials plan to consolidate this data on the proposed platform to improve coordination between emergency responders, ambulance operators and hospitals.
The initiative aims to shorten response times, strengthen first-aid access and ensure accident victims reach medical facilities as quickly as possible, particularly in remote and high-risk highway corridors.
Source: Hindustan Times
Pic Credit: Pune Now
