India, March 12 -- In what reflects poorly on the management of public health infrastructure, as many as 100 ambulances purchased for around Rs.35 crore during the tenure of former health minister Tanaji Sawant have been lying unused for over three months near Dr Naidu Hospital in Pune. The ambulances - which began arriving since January 2025 for the purpose of distribution among municipal- corporations and councils across Maharashtra - have been gathering dust with many of them now sporting deflated tyres and dead batteries among others.

All the ambulances are air-conditioned, and each has cost approximately Rs.36 lakh. The purchase was approved in phases-25 ambulances arrived in the first phase in January this year; another 25 arrived ...