Centre Proposes Two-Wheeler Ambulance Framework To Strengthen Emergency Care
New rules aim to improve emergency medical reach.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on Monday proposed a regulatory framework for two-wheeled road ambulances to improve emergency medical access in remote, rural and difficult-to-reach areas. The draft notification aims to formally recognise and regulate these vehicles, which can provide faster medical assistance in locations where conventional ambulances face challenges due to narrow roads, difficult terrain or limited accessibility.
According to MoRTH, two-wheeled road ambulances can play an important role in reducing emergency response times and improving last-mile healthcare delivery, especially in rural regions and hilly areas. At present, such vehicles do not have a separate category under the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, leading to the absence of standardised guidelines for their design, safety features, registration, type approval and fitness inspections.
To address this regulatory gap, the ministry has proposed the adoption of AIS-209 (Part 1):2026, which will establish construction and functional requirements for life-support two-wheeled road ambulances. Under the proposed framework, all L2-category two-wheeled road ambulances manufactured on or after October 1, 2027, will be required to comply with these standards. Emergency warning top lights installed on these vehicles will also have to meet the prescribed requirements from the same date.
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The draft rules provide state governments with flexibility to decide the operational areas where two-wheeled ambulances can be deployed. States will be able to determine their usage based on local healthcare needs, geographical challenges and accessibility conditions. The move is expected to help authorities design emergency response systems suited to different regions across the country.
The ministry has also proposed classifying two-wheeled road ambulances as transport vehicles under the regulatory framework. As a result, these vehicles will be required to undergo mandatory fitness certification, with the certificate of fitness needing renewal every two years to ensure compliance with safety and operational standards.
The proposed regulations are aimed at creating a structured system for the use of two-wheeled ambulances in India’s emergency healthcare network. By introducing technical standards and operational guidelines, the government hopes to expand medical reach in areas where traditional ambulance services often struggle to provide timely assistance.
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