Ghaziabad: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on Aug 12 said a fine of Rs 10,000 will be imposed on ambulance operators who don’t reach an accident spot within 10 minutes of a call made on the highway helpline 1033 or from SOS call boxes. But nearly half of the solar-powered SOS boxes, spaced every one to two kilometres on National Highway-9 and Delhi-Meerut Expressway, are currently lying defunct.The SOS boxes were installed as an emergency communication system for stranded commuters and accident victims, and were meant to provide a direct link to NHAI’s quick response teams (QRTs), particularly at locations where mobile connectivity is poor.The Nizamuddin-UP Gate stretch has 16 boxes, eight on each side, while the UP Gate-Dasna section has 40, with 20 on either side. Further along the DME, 30 boxes have also been installed between Dasna and Meerut.According to NHAI officials, the solar-powered boxes are cable-connected to NHAI toll plazas. To seek assistance, commuters have to open the cabin, press the SOS button and speak to the QRT team. An NHAI official said the system had become largely obsolete because of widespread mobile connectivity but could still prove crucial at locations where phone networks fail.“Even though they have been rendered obsolete, we can’t do away with them because there are many places along national highways where the mobile network is poor,” the official said, adding that the boxes could be “life-saving” in emergencies.Despite their intended purpose, the boxes have seen little genuine use since the DME opened in 2021. Fewer than 10 calls were received from the Nizamuddin-UP Gate stretch, while eight calls came from the UP Gate-Dasna section. Only five calls were received from Dasna-Meerut, most of which were prank calls, officials said. Many calls were made by children.The 1033 regional command centre, meanwhile, handles 150-200 highway emergencies a day, including accidents, medical emergencies, vehicle breakdowns and towing requests.NHAI said the “golden hour” is critical for accident victims. Ambulances must mobilise within two minutes of accepting an emergency ticket and reach incidents within 10 minutes if they are within 10km. A Rs 10,000 penalty will apply for late arrival, followed by an additional Rs 5,000 for every subsequent minute of delay, the NHAI order said. Rejecting an emergency ticket will attract a Rs 10,000 fine, while a faulty GPS will invite a Rs 2,500 daily penalty, it added.
