Ambulance service at ₹100 in Navi Mumbai

Around three years ago, Raghav Narsalay’s was charged ₹4,000 for an ambulance for travelling just 200 metres, as his mother had to be hospitalised

Around three years ago, Raghav Narsalay’s was charged ₹4,000 for an ambulance for travelling just 200 metres, as his mother had to be hospitalised. Narsalay, 47, a managing director with a multinational company (MNC), at the time, wondered how the poor could afford an ambulance service. In April, while he and his wife had tested positive for Covid-19 and were home isolated, he thought about starting an ambulance service to patients anywhere in Navi Mumbai for merely ₹100.

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“While we were blessed to have a house and a comfortable atmosphere to be home isolated, I wondered about the less privileged. Many have been doing good work during the pandemic, and I wished to contribute too. The initial idea was to start a food service, but that would involve having a quality check daily.”

Narsalay, after repaying all the loans, initiated to invest for the welfare of society. “Navi Mumbai has helped me grow professionally in many ways and it was time to repay the city,” he said.

He purchased a Tata Winger for ₹16 lakh and completed the formalities.

On Friday, he received all the documents for the ambulance service. “I haven’t received a call yet for service. No service request is also a good sign that the people now are not needing an ambulance,” he added.

Around ₹40,000 is the estimated expense for the ambulance, which includes fuel and the salary for the chauffeur. The plan is to run the service from 10am to 10pm.

“I am learning the whole process. Once established, I will think of getting another ambulance,” he added.

His wife, Madhavi, 48, is an assistant professor of Sanskrit at Mumbai University, while his daughter Maitreyi, 21, has a startup. For ambulance service, people can call on 9820770021.