Bengaluru’s notorious traffic spares nothing, not even ambulances with people fighting for their lives

Although the Bengaluru police have proposed a technology-enabled solution called E-Path to facilitate traffic clearances for ambulances, the system is still only in a pilot stage and is yet to be implemented across the city.

The E-Path app tracks ambulances and ensures they can move freely without getting stuck in traffic for extended periods. The app is undergoing various tests to enhance its functionality.

“The use of the app involves three stages. Only the first stage is operational at present. Manipal Hospitals and the 108 emergency medical response service are the registered users,” said Shivaprakash Devaraju, Deputy Commissioner of Police (traffic, south).

“Once an ambulance is dispatched, the control room receives a notification, allowing us to pinpoint its location on the map. A constable is then notified manually by the control room during this stage,” the DCP said.

He said the second stage will allow constables to receive notifications directly from the app, eliminating the need for a call from the control room. “The third stage involves integrating the app with traffic signal controllers, enabling automatic signal changes to green without human intervention, facilitating smoother transport for ambulance drivers,” the DCP said.

The second and third stages of the use of the E-Path app have yet to be fully tested and are hence not operational yet. When the introduction of the app was announced last year, the Bengaluru traffic police stated they expected around 2,700 ambulance drivers to register on the app.

“Once the ambulance driver registers on the app, all he has to do is enter the to and from locations. This will help us track the ambulance vehicle by geotagging the location. If the vehicle is stuck in traffic for more than 60 seconds, an alert is sent to the traffic management centre, which will direct the officials on the ground to clear the traffic,” a traffic official in Bengaluru said last year.

“Sometimes, the traffic policeman on the ground may not be able to hear the siren because so many vehicles lead to delays in clearing traffic for the ambulance. The app aims to solve a lot of these challenges,” the official had said.

Fines for breaking traffic rules, congestion at toll booths

Ambulance drivers in Bengaluru face significant challenges navigating congested streets, including fines imposed for violating traffic rules while transporting patients during medical emergencies.

“Hospitals face various penalties due to violations committed by ambulance drivers while transporting patients,” said Lingaraj, an ambulance driver at St John’s Hospital in Bengaluru.

According to Raja Tao, assistant security officer at St John’s Hospital, it would be better if hospitals did not receive notices for traffic violations since “ambulances are emergency vehicles, and halting during emergencies can result in delays in patient transport to the hospital”.

“The ambulance drivers cannot stick to traffic regulations when a patient is on board, and we then receive fine receipts from the police. We have to visit the police station to present our justification, after which these fines are typically waived,” Raja Rao said.

Ambulance drivers in Bengaluru also complain about being stopped at toll gates around the city while transporting patients. “The VIP lanes at toll gates are designated for emergency vehicles to facilitate clear passage. However, these lanes are frequently occupied by public transport vehicles, resulting in chaos and delays,” an ambulance driver said.

Madesah, another ambulance driver from St John’s Hospital, said, “I was in a hurry to reach the hospital due to an emergency. Upon arriving at a toll gate, I found the VIP lane congested with public transport vehicles. Then, I decided to use the public transport lane, only to be scolded by a toll booth employee.”

(Brinda Srinivasa is an intern with The Indian Express)