Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi of Odisha has announced plans to reduce mortality rates by ensuring swift hospital access for patients, with a focus on bolstering ambulance services statewide. In a recent event at Kalinga Stadium, CM Majhi launched 250 new ambulances as part of the 108 Emergency Medical Ambulance Service (EMAS) to fortify emergency healthcare in Odisha. The state has already introduced 428 new ambulances, with 150 inaugurated in December 2025 and the remaining 250 unveiled recently.
The procurement cost for each ambulance under the 108-EMAS amounts to Rs 25.77 lakh, inclusive of branding and registration, with a total project cost of around Rs 111 crore funded entirely by the state government. Since its inception on March 5, 2013, the 108 Emergency Medical Ambulance Service in Odisha has been operating 866 ambulances across all 30 districts, including Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances, along with specialized services for pregnant women and sick children.
CM Majhi highlighted efforts to ensure seamless ambulance services from block levels to District headquarters Hospitals (DHH) and from DHHs to SCB Medical and Hospital in Cuttack. Additionally, ambulance services will soon be extended to Airstrips like Rourkela and Jaipur through the B-MAAN scheme, with ALS ambulances already stationed at various airports and the Cancer Hospital in Jharsuguda. The state’s emergency healthcare system, which currently transports over 5,000 patients daily to government health facilities, aims to enhance response times and replace older vehicles through the phased introduction of new ambulances.
