Kolkata Municipal Corporation introduces three AC hearses in city

Kolkata: Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) on Tuesday introduced three hearses for service in the city.

The hearses have been procured from the MP lad funds of Dola Sen.

"The use of matadors for carrying dead bodies for last rites has possibilities of infection. This air-conditioned hearses will surely be of immense help as it will be available at an affordable rate. We will gradually introduce such hearses in all the 16 boroughs of the civic body," Mayor Sovan Chatterjee said at the flag off ceremony of the

three hearses.

The rate for the hearse service has been pegged at Rs 200 for two hours which will go up to Rs 50 per hour accordingly. The hearses will be stationed at the existing office of the KMC ambulance service adjacent to Muhammad Ali Park on Central Avenue. People can call at the number 2219-7202 for availing this facility.

MP Dola Sen said the hearses has been handed over to the civic body from her MP lad funds under the instruction of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Member Mayor-in-Council (health) Atin Ghosh said the KMC's ambulance service was revamped since 2011.

The KMC presently has 16 ambulances and is in the process of procuring a few more. The service can be availed at Rs 150 per hour.

"There was a time before 2011 when ambulance service earned a paltry revenue of Rs 50,000 for us. It has now gone up to more than Rs 4 lakh per annum. Death of any person is mournful but hearse service is surely a utilitarian one," Ghosh said.

KMC chairperson Mala Roy said citizens no longer had to depend on private ambulances for carrying corpses.

"This will enable even the poor people to avail the services as the rate is very low," Roy said.