THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, FEBRUARY 10, 2026

In a significant push to strengthen emergency healthcare delivery, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Tuesday inaugurated 250 new ambulances at Kalinga Stadium, marking the second phase of Odisha’s large-scale expansion of its emergency medical transport system.

The newly inducted fleet is part of the state government’s procurement of 428 ambulances at an investment of ₹111 crore. While 150 ambulances were rolled out in December, the latest addition further deepens the reach and responsiveness of emergency services across the state, especially in remote and underserved regions.

With this expansion, Odisha now operates 866 emergency ambulances alongside 500 Janani Express vehicles dedicated to pregnant women and sick children. The enhanced network is designed to ensure uninterrupted ambulance connectivity from block-level hospitals to district headquarters and onward to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, significantly reducing critical delays in patient care.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Majhi underscored that timely access to medical facilities remains a top priority of his government. He said the strengthened ambulance fleet would play a vital role in reducing preventable deaths by ensuring patients reach hospitals at the earliest possible time. In a move aimed at integrating healthcare with aviation infrastructure, the Chief Minister announced that ambulances would also be stationed at airstrips in Rourkela and Jeypore, improving emergency accessibility under the state’s aviation plans.

Odisha has already taken steps to upgrade the quality of emergency response with the deployment of five Advanced Life Support ambulances at airports and two ALS units at the Jharsuguda Cancer Hospital. On average, the state’s ambulance network transports more than 5,000 patients daily to government hospitals, reflecting its growing importance in the public healthcare system.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling, Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, Health Secretary Ashwathi S, and National Health Mission Director Dr Brunda D, among other senior officials.