Noida: Traffic police in Noida have launched Operation FAST (Fast Ambulance Seamless Transition), a system to give emergency vehicles priority passage and reduce commute times for ambulances.A 24×7 ambulance traffic assistance cell will operate from the police control room. Hospitals, ambulance dispatchers and crews can call the helpline 9218981716, sharing the vehicle’s location, destination and route. Traffic cops will then coordinate to clear intersections, temporarily manage signals and regulate vehicles through a rolling clearance mechanism, creating a passage for the ambulance along its route.Officials said the system has been developed under the direction of police commissioner Laxmi Singh, following research and a proposal by deputy commissioner of police (headquarters) Shavya Goyal.Currently, ambulances often have to negotiate congestion at individual intersections. Under Operation FAST, traffic personnel will undertake a rolling traffic clearance mechanism by regulating vehicles at successive intersections as the ambulance moves towards its destination.This may include clearing traffic at major junctions in advance, temporarily managing traffic signals, regulating vehicles approaching from the opposite direction and identifying alternative routes wherever necessary.If necessary, traffic police will also make announcements to alert motorists about an approaching ambulance and urge them to give way.Police commissioner Laxmi Singh said the system was designed to prioritise emergency vehicles while minimising inconvenience to other commuters. Real-time communication between the control room and traffic personnel will be crucial to ensuring that the route remains clear as the ambulance progresses.On Friday, traffic police conducted a trial run during a busy traffic period to assess the feasibility of the initiative. An empty ambulance travelled from Chilla Border to Max Hospital and Fortis Hospital, covering approximately 12 km on each route in around 10 minutes.Commissioner Singh said the trial demonstrated that proactive coordination between traffic personnel could significantly reduce travel time even during peak hours, without disrupting normal traffic movement.The exercise was intended to test the proposed system’s practical implementation and the ability of traffic personnel to coordinate at multiple intersections, officials said.Officials said that the initiative places particular emphasis on road accident victims and patients with serious injuries who need urgent medical attention.In cases involving severe head injuries, excessive blood loss, multiple fractures, heart attacks, strokes and other life-threatening conditions, reaching an appropriate medical facility without avoidable delays can be critical. By facilitating faster movement from accident sites to hospitals and trauma centres, the system aims to reduce delays in treatment and help prevent deaths that could otherwise be avoided, they added.The initiative also aligns with the district’s broader Zero Fatality District programme, which seeks to reduce preventable road deaths through improved road safety and timely emergency assistance.Major govt and private hospitals, ambulance service providers and emergency dispatch centres have been linked to the coordination mechanism. Hospital authorities and ambulance operators have been asked to provide advance information about emergency movements so that traffic arrangements can be made before the ambulance reaches congested stretches.Police have also identified key routes connecting major hospitals in the district to facilitate coordinated movement.Residents will be encouraged to give way to approaching ambulances, avoid blocking intersections and cooperate with traffic personnel. Public announcement systems installed at various locations will be used to spread awareness about giving priority to emergency vehicles.
