Mangaluru : The Tulunada Rakshana Vedike ambulance owners’ and drivers’ unit has decried the move of the Transport Department to not issue fitness certificates for Maruti Omni vans used as ambulance.

Keeping in mind the safety and space issues, the Department has also decided not to register new Maruti Omni vans as ambulances.

Briefing media persons on Tuesday, Vedike founder president Yogish Shetty Jeppu said that although the order has come into effect on May 10, it came to light only when the vehicle owners went to the regional transport offices (RTO) to get fitness certificates (FC), and the RTOs refused to renew the fitness certificates of the vehicles citing the order. The notification was issued based on a request from the Health Department following a specification issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Stating that high-tech ambulances are expensive, Shetty said that the high-tech ambulances cannot provide service to people in hilly areas. “Poor patients have been depending on the Omni ambulances to reach the hospital or return home after treatment. There are over 180 Omni ambulances in Mangaluru and Puttur. If the direction of the Transport Department is implemented effectively, then there will be shortage of ambulances in the district.

Moreover, the owners have purchased the Omni ambulances by availing 70% of the loans from the banks. What will happen to them?” he asked.

Secretary Radhika, Prashanth, Prasad, Rakshith and others were present at the press meet.

Registration banned

A circular issued by the Transport and Road Safety Commissioner on June 5 has clarified that the government has banned the registration of Maruti Omni vans as emergency response service ambulances in the state.

However, the Omni ambulances that have already been registered will be issued with fitness certificates, the commissioner assured.