Bengaluru: What began as a desire to help ease Bengaluru’s traffic has turned into a life-saving mission for Shree Ram Bishnoi, a 31-year-old entrepreneur from Rajasthan who now dedicates his evenings to creating green corridors for ambulances across the city.
Having moved to Bengaluru nearly a decade ago to establish a steel fabrication business, Bishnoi has become a familiar face among ambulance drivers and traffic police, helping critically ill patients reach hospitals without losing precious time in traffic congestion.
Turning daily traffic into a life-saving mission
Bishnoi’s journey as a volunteer began in 2021 when he joined the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) as a traffic warden after witnessing the challenges faced by police in managing the city’s ever-growing traffic.
While assisting at busy junctions, he noticed ambulances frequently getting trapped in long traffic queues.
“I saw how helpless ambulance drivers were. That’s when I decided to start creating free corridors for them,” he said.
Today, Bishnoi is part of a WhatsApp network of nearly 2,000 ambulance drivers, who contact him whenever they encounter traffic bottlenecks. He estimates that he has helped escort thousands of ambulances, assisting at least two emergency vehicles every day.
Racing against time to save lives
Whenever he receives a call, Bishnoi immediately heads to the location, regardless of whether he is at work or attending a family function.
Using the Bengaluru Traffic Police’s traffic warden application and constant coordination with the traffic control room, he identifies the quickest route and personally escorts ambulances through congested roads.
One incident that remains etched in his memory involved an ambulance carrying a ventilator-supported patient from Chikkamagaluru to a private hospital on Old Airport Road.
The ambulance became stuck in traffic as its oxygen supply began running low. Fortunately, Bishnoi was nearby and quickly created a clear path, helping the patient reach the hospital in time.
Inspiring awareness on road etiquette
Bishnoi says one of the biggest challenges is persuading motorists to give way to ambulances despite flashing lights and sirens.
Recalling another incident involving a 10-year-old child being shifted from Yelahanka to the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, he said he had to personally request motorists along the Hebbal flyover to move aside after traffic remained blocked for nearly two kilometres.
His commitment has only grown stronger. He recently invested ₹2.5 lakh in a specially modified motorcycle fitted with emergency lights and a siren after obtaining official permission from the Regional Transport Office. He also plans to undergo CPR and first-aid training to further assist patients during emergencies.
Bishnoi hopes greater public awareness about the importance of the golden hour will encourage motorists to make way for ambulances, reminding citizens that a few seconds of cooperation can save a life.