Agartala: July 02: In a major push toward enhancing road safety and emergency response, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Tuesday inaugurated 16 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances at a public event held at Swami Vivekananda Ground, Agartala.
The ambulances, procured at a cost of ₹3.48 crore, have been allocated to the state police and the Fire & Emergency Services departments. Of the total, eight ambulances will be deployed at police stations, while the remaining eight will serve under fire and emergency services. These vehicles are fully equipped to deliver basic life support to accident victims, ensuring quick medical aid and timely hospital transport.
Alongside the ambulance launch, the Chief Minister also unveiled a ₹5.49 crore Vehicle Location Tracking (VLT) System, which will allow real-time monitoring of public transport vehicles throughout the state. He emphasized the government’s commitment to reducing road accident fatalities to zero and highlighted the VLT system as a significant tool for improving passenger safety, particularly for women.
Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, present at the launch, termed the initiative a landmark move by the state transport department. He noted that, as per the directives of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, installation of Vehicle Location Tracking Devices and emergency panic buttons is now mandatory in all public transport vehicles.
To support this, Tripura has launched the Vehicle Tracking Platform for Safety & Enforcement (VTSE) project, which aims to modernize and secure the state’s transportation network.
Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation Dipak Majumder, Director General of Tripura Police Anurag, and other senior officials also attended the event, marking a unified step toward a safer and more responsive transport system in the state.