Jaya Bachhan demands emergency lanes for ambulance movement

On Wednesday, Samajwadi Party MP Jaya Bachchan called for the creation of special emergency lanes on roadways for the transportation of ambulances. He claimed that although groceries and pizzas arrive at Indian homes in less than 15 and 30 minutes, respectively, patients bleed to death because of the length of time it takes to get to the hospital.

Bachchan brought up the matter at Rajya Sabha Zero Hour and insisted that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health investigate patient deaths brought on by hospital delays.

“In a country where groceries reach doorsteps in under 15 minutes, pizzas in 30 minutes via quick commerce platforms, patients bleed to death because ambulances get trapped in traffic, lacking dedicated emergency lanes, despite the Supreme Court’s 2018 directive. No national data tracks these tragedies,” Bachchan said.

“60 per cent of ambulances arrive late, with urban delays averaging 15 to 30 minutes due to an absence of green corridors and police escorts, missing the golden hour for 55 per cent of accident victims. No dedicated lanes on highways, despite the National Ambulance Code 2016. These critical failures need to be taken notice of and dealt with immediately,” she stated.

She proposed an immediate national mandate for emergency lanes with AI traffic signals, ambulance priority, 30-second green corridors, enforcement of the Supreme Court’s 2018 ambulance corridor directive through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, fines for violators, and a high-level investigation into ambulance delay deaths.

Rekha Sharma, a BJP MP, called on the nation to provide traumatized women with a gender-sensitive mental health facility. She brought attention to the acute lack of easily available, gender-sensitive mental health services, especially for victims of trauma, assault, and harassment.

Although the Modi government’s efforts, like Tele Manas and district mental health programs, are praiseworthy, gaps still exist, particularly in rural, marginalized communities, she added, adding that many women are unable to receive timely care due to a lack of knowledge and a shortage of qualified professionals.

Survivors of domestic violence, cyber harassment, acid attacks, trafficking and workplace abuse frequently carry long-lasting psychological scars, she told the House.

The mental health system that should support them remains fragmented and under-resourced, she pointed out.

She urged the government to deploy dedicated women’s mental health counsellors at centres, police stations, and hospitals, ensuring immediate and specialised assistance. Tele Manas outreach should be expanded and integrated with women’s helpline, self-help groups, and Anganwari worker network, she said.