Half of city ambulances may go off road post NGT order

About 50 per cent ambulances may go off the capital’s roads following the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order for de-registration of diesel vehicles, leading to a crisis in the health system.

According to the Delhi Transport Department, there are about 1,600 registered ambulances in the national capital and of these, 991 are diesel-run and more than 10 years old.

“If the Transport Department starts de-registering diesel vehicles more than 15 years old, 813 ambulances will go off roads in a first phase,” a senior government official said.

Apart from this, of the total 89,917 goods vehicles, 81,169 are 15 years old. Phasing out of these vehicles will affect transportation of goods in the national capital, the official said.

The official said that the Transport Department will first de-register vehicles in phases and then notices will be sent to their owners to remove such vehicles from the city’s roads.

The NGT had on Monday issued an order directing the Delhi RTO to deregister all diesel vehicles operating in the city that are over 10 years old.