In a bid to ensure the availability of the vehicles for medical emergencies for other essential requirements, the district administration of Mohali has tied up with Uber, a web-based cab service, to provide vehicles for essential emergency transportation for citizens as well as the frontline staff including health department officials, civic officials, etc. As per the tie-up, the vehicles will be available round-the-clock.
Girish Dayalan, Deputy Commissioner (DC), on the tie-up said that Uber Essential will be providing 24 vehicles for any medical emergency and that vehicles will carry ailing patients to hospitals. At maximum, only two passengers will be allowed in a car, the DC added.
Detailing on the deal, the DC said that the citizens in need can book the cab online through the Uber application. However, for the citizens to avail the service, curfew passes are not required. Moreover, he added that the rides can be booked only from home to the destination. Standard charges will be levied by Uber India and there will be no surge pricing, said the DC.
The Uber drivers will be screened on a regular basis, sanitization of the vehicles will carried time to time and it will be ensured that the drivers are using preventive measures like masks. Moreover, Uber India will be providing trip reports of all vehicles on a daily basis to the designated Nodal Officer.
Dayalan, further said that Uber Medic is to provide 20 vehicles, free of cost, for the use of the district administration. However, as the district administration has requisite vehicles, the service will be utilised for ferrying persons from lower-income groups. The 20 vehicles will be placed at the disposal of Civil Surgeon. In case the people are unlikely to use the Uber App, the Health Control Room at 0172-2270091/ 78146-41397 will take requests and pass on to concerned SMO/ MO in-charge, who can send the vehicle to pick or drop the patient. Secretary, RTA will be the Nodal Officer for management of this service.
