108 ambulances now respond quicker in Trichy
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In May 2024, ambulances took an average of 11 minutes and 26 seconds to reach an emergency scene. By May 2025, the average had dropped to 9 minutes and 48 seconds. Officials attribute the improvement to the closer stationing of ambulances and better coordination. The average base-to-scene distance has also narrowed from 8.1 km to 7.5 km. "This has directly contributed to the reduction in response times," an official said.
The average time for an ambulance to reach a hospital from the spot is 45 minutes.
Twelve accident-prone areas across the district have been marked as critical zones requiring immediate ambulance access. "In consultation with the police, these hotspots were identified to ensure prompt response. At least one ambulance is stationed within a 10 km radius, more if necessary," said J Kumaran, programme manager.
During peak hours — 8am to 11am and 4 pm to 9 pm — ambulances are stationed at these hotspots.
Although the fleet size remains at 44, deployment has been optimised. Palpannai junction, identified as a "super-hotspot," now has three ambulances stationed within a 3 km radius. "Accidents here can occur in quick succession, so we increased coverage," said M Selvakumar, head of GVK-EMRI Green Health Services, which manages the 108 ambulance service.
Technology has also played a key role. GPS-enabled ambulances and the mobile app Avasaram 108 Tamilnadu allow real-time tracking and faster dispatch.
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"Our control room monitors every ambulance and assigns the nearest one to each distress call," a source said.
Public awareness has improved, with penalties for motorists who obstruct ambulances. Still, some challenges persist. "People are more cooperative now, but sometimes the speed governor limits our ability to respond faster," said John Bopti, a pilot stationed at Siruganur.
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