Pune: Ambulance Rates Revised By RTO To Prevent Exorbitant Charges
Mihir Shete
Pune, 25th May 2021: The Regional Transport Authority (RTA) on Monday announced revised fares for ambulances to address the problems of citizens and medical service providers in the wake of Corona, as well as to avoid exorbitant fares. The revised fare has been increased to some extent as compared to the previous fare.
The new fare will be applicable in the jurisdiction of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Baramati Regional Transport Offices (RTO), Regional Transport Officer Ajit Shinde has clarified.
There have also been several complaints about arbitrary charges by some ambulances. Earlier last year, revised fares for ambulances were introduced during the first wave of Corona.
Even after that, in some cases, there were complaints of overcharging. Against this background, the Pune Regional Transport Authority convened an urgent meeting and also considered the citizens and medical service providers and implemented the revised fare by increasing the previous fare to some extent.
Assuming that all ambulances have an air-conditioning system, the fare has been implemented. Different fares have been decided according to the type of ambulance. Depending on the type of ambulance, for 25 km or two hours, the fare has been increased from Rs 500 to Rs 900 to Rs 600 to Rs 950. The fare from Rs 11 to Rs 13 per km beyond 25 km has been fixed at Rs 12 to 14 as per the revised fare. Similarly, the waiting rate has been fixed at Rs 100 to Rs 150 per hour as before.
The fare is for the return distance from the time the patient sits in the ambulance, and the fare for the return will be per kilometre. This lease should be displayed on the inside of the ambulance. It has also been clarified by the Regional Transport Authority that fares cannot be charged more than the proposed maximum fare, RTO said.
Rates of private ambulances from government agencies
Private ambulances will be used full time (24 hours) by Municipal Corporation, Government or Semi-Government agencies, Local Self Government Institutions and Government undertakings. The cost of fuel, driver’s salary, maintenance etc. of these ambulances will be borne by the municipality. There are separate rates for these ambulances. They will be provided to the ambulance owners by the concerned organization. Depending on the type of ambulance, the rates are fixed at Rs 800 to Rs 1,600 per day.
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