The sudden suspension of the crucial 104 Janani Express ambulance service in Rajasthan has thrown maternal healthcare services into disarray, forcing the state health department to redirect emergency calls to the 108 ambulance network. This crisis unfolded after the contract with the private operator expired, grounding a fleet of 600 dedicated ambulances and leaving hundreds of employees jobless.
Contract Expiry Halts Critical Service
The immediate cause of the disruption was the expiry of the contract with the private firm, Modern Emergency Services, which was operating the 104 Janani Express ambulances. The contract officially ended on December 10, 2025, leading to the cessation of all 600 ambulances under this scheme. A senior health official explained that the company had expressed willingness to extend the contract by six months. However, the government's examination found that such an extension was not legally permissible under the Rajasthan Transparency in Public Procurement Act, 2012.
Government Scramble and Tender Delay
With the extension ruled out, the health department initiated a fresh tender process on November 26, 2025. Officials state that the process to finalise a new firm is now in its final stages, with five companies having applied for the job and a pre-bid meeting already conducted. The delay in initiating this tender process in a timely manner is being cited as a primary reason for the current gap in services. "We examined the request for extending the tenure of the firm by six months, but we found that under the law, it was not legally possible. Following this, we invited a fresh tender," a senior official stated.
Impact on Patients and Staff
The operational halt has had severe consequences, particularly for pregnant women requiring urgent transport for delivery or emergencies. To manage the crisis, the health department issued directives to all Chief Medical and Health Officers (CMHOs). They have been instructed to ensure that transportation facilities for mothers and children under the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) are provided seamlessly through the 108 emergency ambulance service.
Beyond the public health impact, the contract expiry has created a human resource crisis. Approximately 1,200 employees associated with the Janani Express service have been rendered jobless. Virendra Singh, the state president of the Government Ambulance Union, blamed the government's lack of timely decision-making. "The 1,200 employees of Janani Express became jobless as of now until the govt ropes in a company to operate the 104 ambulances. It happened because govt did not take a timely decision to invite a tender," Singh said.
The state government is now under pressure to expedite the tender finalisation process to restore the vital 104 ambulance service, which plays a specialized role in maternal and child care, and to reinstate the livelihoods of the affected workforce.
