400 Mahindra Bolero SUVs are left unused and deteriorating on the campus of the third battalion of the Chhattisgarh Security Force in the Durg district. These vehicles were purchased last year for the state’s emergency Dial-112 service across 22 cities. They were intended to respond to SOS calls, transport people to hospitals, and assist in disaster response. However, following the defeat of the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government, the vehicles have remained abandoned for over a year.
While these emergency vehicles remain unused, many areas of the state face significant gaps in disaster response and a lack of public transport during emergencies.
In the Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district, represented by Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, a woman who fractured her leg called for an ambulance, but it never arrived. As a result, her family had to carry her to the hospital on a cot.
“We called the ambulance, but they told us it was picking up another patient. We were asked to take the patient ourselves,” said Parmeshwar, the woman’s relative, reported NDTV.
In another incident in Ambikapur, a pregnant woman went into labour and called an ambulance, but it never arrived. Her family had to carry her to the hospital on a cot. Dr. Shailendra Gupta of Ambikapur District Hospital explained that while the ambulance reached the main road, it could not get to the woman’s doorstep. “This highlights the road access issue in many parts of Surguja, where large vehicles can only reach the main road,” he said, as per the report.
With limited resources and significant gaps in disaster response resulting in such incidents almost daily, the sight of 400 SUVs sitting unused—despite being purchased for these very situations—raises serious concerns.
The vehicles were bought for Rs 40 crore in July-August of last year, just months before the BJP government took office, but have remained idle since then. Vijay Sharma, the Deputy Chief Minister, stated, “We have raised questions regarding the status of these vehicles and why they remain unused. We will soon receive an answer.” Sources in the report suggest that it will take at least 5-6 months to issue a new tender before the vehicles can be deployed. Additionally, each SUV will need maintenance costing at least Rs 20,000 before it can be put into service.
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