Ambulances fleece families as demand soars in second wave

KOLKATA: For a ride from Dhakuria to a private hospital at Panchasayar — without oxygen — with a brief stop over at another private hospital at Mukundapur, Nirmala Baidya had to spend Rs 3,500. Similarly, an accountant, who lives in Girish Park, said that no one picked up the government helpline numbers when his father’s condition deteriorated and he had to be hospitalised. Local ambulances refused. One driver asked for Rs 8,000. Finally, a neighbour gave the two a lift.
There are stories galore about private ambulances making a killing in this distress situation, extorting thousands of rupees from families when the fares should be a few hundreds.

Ambulance operators are demanding Rs 3,000-Rs 4,000 for a transport from RG Kar Hospital to Medical College, a distance that is within 6km. They are charging Rs 3,000 for 3.5km distance from Park Circus to SSKM. Swapan Ghosh, a resident of Park Circus, said that he asked for oxygen supply but it was never provided to his 13-year-old son experiencing respiratory distress.
Flooded with complaints, Kolkata traffic cops have decided to step in after Thursday’s elections. “We will undertake special drives with health and transport department officials. We will also keep men posted at hospitals and act against those who are overcharging with spot cancellation of registration,” warned a joint commissioner of police.
KMC officials will also meet local clubs and ask them to ensure that ambulance drivers charge rationally. “Clubs have rented out ambulances to third parties. But they cannot absolve their responsibility. The maximum fare for transportation to a hospital within the city limit is Rs 600. An additional Rs 100 can be charged for oxygen support,” said a civic health official.
But despite assurances from the administration, TOI found rampant overcharging by ambulance operators in the city. When asked about the charge for a ride to New Alipore from SSKM, an operator replied Rs 1,200. “It could go up by another Rs 400 if you hire an AC ambulance with an oxygen cylinder,” he said. Most of them charge an additional Rs 100 if the patient has to be driven into a by-lane off the main road. In case, the distance from the main road is over 500m, a further Rs 100 is levied.
The average rate is marginally lower than SSKM. A ride between CNMC and Chittaranjan Avenue could cost Rs 1,000 for a non-AC vehicle. But operators warned that the rates could fluctuate, depending on the demand.