May 21 (BNP): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday flagged off a fleet of 40 new Bolero ambulances and utility vehicles for the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services at the Secretariat in Chennai, marking a significant step toward strengthening public healthcare delivery in the state. Procured at a cost of ₹2.90 crore, the vehicles are aimed at improving healthcare accessibility and emergency medical response in rural and underserved regions.
The initiative is designed to modernise healthcare mobility infrastructure, enabling medical teams to reach remote villages more efficiently while enhancing the delivery of essential public health services. Officials said the deployment of the vehicles would help strengthen grassroots healthcare outreach and improve response time during emergencies.
During the launch event, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay formally handed over keys to designated drivers in the presence of senior officials and health department personnel. Adding a personal touch to the programme, the Chief Minister later stepped into the driver’s seat and test-drove one of the newly launched vehicles within the Secretariat premises, a moment that quickly drew public attention.
The move reflects the government’s continued commitment to reinforcing rural healthcare systems and ensuring improved medical connectivity for communities across Tamil Nadu.