Officials said the inspections primarily focused on verification of statutory documents and assessment of the mechanical fitness of ambulances. Under Section 56 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, every ambulance must possess a valid Fitness Certificate to operate legally on public roads. Enforcement teams checked fitness certificates, insurance policies, Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates, vehicle permits, and driving licences of drivers. Vehicles operating without valid documents or with expired certificates were penalised as per provisions of the law.RTO authorities noted that ambulances frequently operate in densely populated areas and are deployed in life-saving emergencies, making compliance with safety norms crucial. Any mechanical failure or regulatory lapse can endanger patients as well as other road users, officials said, stressing the importance of maintaining roadworthy emergency vehicles.The drive was conducted with the support of Motor Vehicle Inspectors Dhanshyam Kharate, Satish Navghare, Bhushan More, and Archana Thongavankar, along with Assistant Motor Vehicle Inspectors Rahul Bangar, Omkar Megram, Sute Nagpure, and Viplav Tiwari.According to the RTO, similar inspections are regularly carried out by flying squads. Between April 2025 and February 2026, action was taken against 78 ambulances in Nagpur city, leading to recovery of Rs 6.16 lakh in compounding fees.The RTO has also written to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Nagpur, urging it to advise private hospitals and medical practitioners to ensure timely renewal of fitness certificates and adherence to transport regulations. Officials said sustained enforcement drives are aimed at improving compliance and ensuring ambulances remain safe, reliable, and legally fit to operate on city roads.
