600 Janani Express ambulances back on road by July 10

Jaipur: The state’s health dept has directed that all 600 Janani Express ambulances operating under the 104 service be made operational by July 10 after hundreds of vehicles remained off the roads since Dec 2025.

The move comes amid renewed scrutiny of the state’s emergency transport network following recent maternal deaths in Kota and Bikaner. The Janani Express service is meant to provide timely transport for pregnant women, newborns and infants requiring medical care.Since Dec 11, 2025, the operation and management of Janani Express ambulances have been transferred to Rajasthan Medical Relief Societies attached to govt hospitals through District Health Committees.

However, in the absence of a fully functional centralised system, many ambulances remained non-operational.The outgoing service provider has now been directed to complete the handover process within three days. “We have sought details from all districts on the number of Janani Express ambulances currently operational and those lying unfit for patient transport,” a senior health dept official said.He said all chief medical and health officers have been instructed to ensure 100% mapping of Janani Express vehicles taken over in their districts.

“Officials must assess the condition of each vehicle and ensure that all 600 ambulances are operational by July 10,” he said.The ambulances will be integrated with the state-level call centre, with drivers’ mobile numbers linked to the system so that cases can be assigned centrally.Repairs of deficiencies identified during the handover process will be carried out through authorised company dealers. The expenditure will be recovered from the pending administrative and financial dues of the outgoing service provider, Modern Emergency Services JV Pvt Ltd.Driver deployment for all roadworthy ambulances will be arranged by the Rajasthan Medical Relief Society of the concerned hospital in accordance with the Rajasthan Transparency in Public Procurement Rules.Operational expenses, including fuel and manpower, will be met from the flexipool funds released under the National Health Mission until further notice. Districts have also been directed to send irreparable or condemnation-worthy vehicles to the state headquarters for formal condemnation.