Manipal Ambulance Response Service (MARS) launch by Traffic Joint Commissioner Shri Rupesh Kumar. Picture by Bibhash Lodh/BS News Agency.
Sanchita Chatterjee, BS News Agency, Kolkata, 27th November 2025: Manipal Hospitals Kolkata today announced the official launch of its Manipal Ambulance Response Service (MARS) in the city, marking a major milestone in strengthening emergency medical response across the region. As part of this expansion, Manipal Hospitals unveiled a robust fleet comprising 17 dedicated Manipal ambulances, including 5 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) units and 12 Basic Life Support (BLS) units, along with 20 Kolkata Accident Response & Medical Assistance (KARMA) ambulances, which operates through a public–private partnership between Kolkata Police and Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, providing specialised emergency support for road-accident victims with rapid response and critical golden-hour intervention. Across its network, Manipal Hospitals operates over 100 MARS ambulances, responding to more than 500 emergency calls every day.
programme was graced by senior officials from the Kolkata and Bidhannagar Police Commissionerates, including - Shri Mukesh, IPS, Commissioner of Police, Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, Shri Rupesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (TP), Kolkata Police, Shri Yeilwad Shrikant Jagannathrao, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Kolkata Police, Shri Nima Norbu Bhutia, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Bidhannagar City Police. Dignitaries from Manipal Hospitals, including Dr. Mabel Vasnaik, Chairperson, Consultant and Head, Emergency Medicine, Manipal Hospitals Bangalore, a key contributor to the MARS journey since its inception in 2014 and Mr. Madhur Gopal, Vice President – Marketing, Manipal Health Enterprise Pvt. Ltd. along with Dr. Indranil Das, Senior Consultant and HOD – Accident and Emergency Care, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, Dr. Kishen Goel, Consultant and HOD – Emergency, Manipal Hospital Broadway, Dr. Sujoy Das Thakur, Consultant and In-Charge – Emergency Medicine, Manipal Hospital Mukundapur and Dr. Ayanabh Debgupta, Regional Chief Operating Officer (COO), Manipal Hospitals East were also present during the launch programme.