Fresh bidding for ambulance scheme in a week

Unable to start its much-publicised quick response ambulance project even after almost two months of its scheduled launch,the Himachal Pradesh government has now decided to go in for fresh bidding to select a new promoter company.

Unable to start its much-publicised quick response ambulance project even after almost two months of its scheduled launch,the Himachal Pradesh government has now decided to go in for fresh bidding to select a new promoter company.

The Emergency Medical Response and Transport that was to be launched in March 2010 was intended to revolutionise the states healthcare system with a network of 100 to 150 ambulances that would respond to calls within 45 minutes. The government had proposed to invest Rs 50 crore in the scheme.

But the company selected to run the scheme,M/s Anjana Aicher Health,had failed to meet some of the mandatory conditions,including depositing Rs 50 lakh as performance security and opening of a control room.

Story continues below this ad

Health Minister Rajeev Bindal on Thursday told a press conference here that the orders engaging M/s Anjana Aicher Health have been cancelled and the company has now been blacklisted. The government now plans to invite fresh offers within a week. We may also go in for the MoU route to ensure that the scheme is started immediately. The model is followed by many states, he said.

But what remains unanswered is why the government took over two months to decide the fate of the company,in spite of a term that says that if the company violates terms of the agreement,the government can cancel the contract without even issuing a showcause notice.

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram