TIRUPATI: The District Collector, Dr. S. Venkateswar, on Tuesday flagged off 16 modernised “102 Thalli Bidda Express” vehicles allocated to Tirupati district as part of a State-wide roll-out of the service, officials said.
Service aims and scope
The vehicles are intended to provide safe, round‑trip transport for pregnant women, new mothers and infants, ensuring timely access to hospital care for deliveries and related maternal and neonatal services. The Collector said the scheme is aimed at improving attendance for essential antenatal appointments and facilitating safe return home after hospital discharge following delivery.
- Number of vehicles: 16 modernised units allocated to Tirupati district.
- Target beneficiaries: Pregnant women (including high‑risk pregnancies), new mothers and infants.
- Booking: By calling 102 through ANM (auxiliary nurse midwife) or ASHA (accredited social health activist) workers.
- Uses: Transport for deliveries, antenatal check‑ups, medical tests and treatments such as iron sucrose administration, and post‑discharge transfer home.
The Collector stressed that pregnant women with high‑risk pregnancies or those suffering from anaemia should particularly make use of the facility. He said timely transport could help ensure attendance at scheduled appointments and continuous monitoring of such pregnancies.
“These vehicles can also be used to safely transport mothers and their newborns home after their discharge from the hospital following delivery. Pregnant women and those who have delivered babies in government hospitals should make use of this free transport facility,” the Collector said.
Health objectives and expected impact
According to the Collector, the initiative is expected to improve access to maternal healthcare services and reduce adverse outcomes. He noted that by ensuring regular monitoring of high‑risk pregnancies and facilitating essential interventions, the programme could contribute to a reduction in the incidence of low‑birth‑weight babies and a significant lowering of maternal and infant mortality.
The launch at the Collectorate was attended by local MLA Arani Srinivasulu, former Union Minister Panabaka Lakshmi, and Narasimha Yadav, chairman of the A.P. Yadav Welfare Corporation, among others. Officials indicated the vehicles form part of a State government initiative under the guidance of the Chief Minister to expand maternal and neonatal transport services across Andhra Pradesh.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Vehicles flagged off | 16 (for Tirupati district) |
| Booking number | 102 (via ANM or ASHA worker) |
| Primary services | Transport for delivery, antenatal check‑ups, tests and post‑discharge return |
Implementation notes
Officials pointed out that the service is free for beneficiaries who are pregnant or have delivered in government hospitals. Use of the service for essential antenatal visits — including iron sucrose administration where prescribed — was specifically highlighted as part of the package of care the vehicles will support.
By linking community health workers (ANMs and ASHAs) with an easy booking mechanism, the programme aims to reduce barriers to institutional care caused by transport difficulties, a frequent challenge in both urban and rural pockets of the district.
No additional operational details such as staffing, vehicle specifications, or the schedule for deployment across localities were provided at the flagging‑off, and officials present said further information would be shared through the health department as the scheme rolls out.
