Mangaluru; The Transport Department on Monday clarified that its order prohibiting registration of new Maruti Omni ambulances does not come in the way of renewal of Fitness Certificates (FCs) of already registered vehicles.

In a circular, the department said that by way of a circular on May 10, it had directed the registering authorities not to register new Maruti Omni vehicles as ambulances (four persons plus one patient in lying condition).

The circular said, “ The Hindu on June 4 reported that some registering authorities have been denying FCs to already existing such ambulances.” In this background, the circular said, the prohibition is only on registering new vehicles and not on issuing fitness certificates.

Existing ambulance operators were upset with the May 10 circular and the consequent denial of FCs by Regional Transport Offices. Prasad from Ganesh Ambulance Service, Mangaluru, had said that many individuals had availed themselves of loans to buy Maruti Omni ambulances and were making a living out of them. Denial of FCs would severely affect their life, he had said.

At the same time, the department’s decision not to register new vehicles was welcomed by many, who said that safer vehicles were available as ambulances.