PRAYAGRAJ ADMIN CAPS AMBULANCE CHARGES TO CURB OVERCHARGING

PRAYAGRAJ : Following several complaints of overcharging by ambulance drivers from attendants of Covid patients, the district magistrate has fixed the ambulance charges as per their facilities and distance to be covered.

The district administration issued an order in this connection on Sunday in which rates were defined for availing ambulance service. As per the order, action under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, will be taken against ambulance drivers if they were found involved in overcharging.

The district magistrate has appointed three nodal officers to keep an eye on ambulance services and act on complaints.

As per new rates, the fare from hospital to Phaphamau ghat for non-air-conditioned ambulance will be Rs 1,500 while those with AC will be Rs 2,000. The fare for ambulance without oxygen within limit of 10 kilometres will be Rs 1,000 but Rs 100 per kilometre will be charged after 10-km limit.

Ambulance with oxygen support will be available for Rs 1,500 up to 10 kilometres but Rs 100 per kilometre will be added after the 10-km limit. For ambulances with ventilator support Rs 2,500 will be charged within 10 kilometres but ahead of that people will have to pay Rs 200 per kilometre.

Three nodal officers with separate complaint numbers have been appointed for disposal of complaints regarding ambulance services. Complaints can be made to SP traffic Akhilesh Bhadauria on 9454401201, city magistrate Rajnish Mishra on 9454417831 and RTO Rajkumar Singh on 8299092747. District magistrate Bhanu Chandra Goswami said ambulance drivers cannot charge any return fare after dropping a patient to hospital.

Officers were receiving continuous complaints regarding overcharging by ambulance drivers. They were charging up to Rs 10,000 for even short distances and hefty amount for taking bodies to cremation ghats. For taking patients to Delhi for treatment, ambulance drivers were demanding between Rs 80,000 and Rs 90,000.