Now help on wheels: First aid in fast lane

Help is on the way for motorists who get caught in accidents on the national highways. As a first step, the National Highways Authority of I...

Help is on the way for motorists who get caught in accidents on the national highways. As a first step, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plans to set up Road Accident Helpline Centres along the Golden Quadrilateral to immediately attend to accident victims. About 150 trauma care centres — each equipped with life-saving drugs and equipment — would be installed every 30 km along the stretch connecting the four metropolis. In addition, 78 ambulances would be deployed every 60 km along the 5,846-km Golden Quadrilateral to rush the victims to a trauma care centre or a nearby hospital.

Each kiosk would have a wireless set, telephone and paramedical staff stocked with first aid and essential medicines. Ambulances would keep first aid, medicines, two-way radio link with the centres and a communication hook-up with the hospital to alert them for preparedness.

To get the project rolling, NHAI’s parent ministry is trying to rope in the State-run oil firms — which run retail outlets along the highways — to set up and manage the centres.

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The one-time cost to the oil firms has been pegged at Rs 4.60 crore for setting up kiosks, buying ambulance, power generators, telephones and wireless sets. The operating costs would be met by the sponsors — either the oil firms or voluntary organisations.

‘‘This humanitarian activity will greatly enhance the image of the oil companies. I am confident that the Ministry of Petroleum would persuade the oil companies to join this endeavour,’’ says Road Transport and Highways Minister B.C. Khanduri in a request to Petroleum Minister Ram Naik.

The NHAI felt the need for the roadside centres as a substantial number of highway deaths occur due to the non-availability of immediate medical help or transport. Even though the NHAI is building wider and better roads under the National Highways Development Project, accidents continue to occur because of human error, indisciplined drivers, unfit vehicles or poor visibility due to bad weather conditions.