Mandya MLA Ganiga Ravikumar has written an urgent letter to Union Minister for Steel HD Kumaraswamy, demanding immediate establishment of the promised Trauma Care Centre in Mandya, warning that delays are directly costing lives on one of Karnataka’s deadliest highway stretches.
‘Golden hour is slipping away’
In his letter and subsequent interaction with the media, Ravikumar said a Level-2 Trauma Care Centre had originally been sanctioned for Mandya district but was later shifted to Mysuru due to non-availability of land at the time. Mysuru is located around 35–40 km away, forcing critically injured accident victims to travel long distances during the crucial “golden hour”.
“The highway passing through Mandya has claimed more lives than any other similar stretch in Karnataka. Every minute lost is a life lost,” the MLA stated, stressing that many victims succumb to injuries while being rushed to Mysuru or even Bengaluru.
Alarming accident data
Ravikumar cited official figures to underline the gravity of the situation. In the first year after the expressway opened, 550 accidents were reported, of which 188 were fatal. As many as 132 people lost their lives in just the first six months. While accident rates have since dropped by nearly 60 per cent and fatalities by below 50 per cent, the MLA pointed out that grievously injured victims continue to die due to delays in emergency care.
He added that Mandya district alone recorded 65 road accident deaths in the first half of 2023, and the lack of a nearby trauma centre remains a critical gap in saving lives.
‘Land is ready, act now’
Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy had earlier stated that the Union government could not proceed with construction until land was provided by the state. Countering this, Ravikumar said the required land is now available and urged the Centre to act without further delay.
“People are dying while files move from table to table. The land is ready. Please set up the centre immediately,” he appealed.
The MLA acknowledged that improved surveillance, speed cameras and the Advanced Traffic Management System have helped bring down fatalities in 2025 so far. However, he cautioned that technology alone cannot save severely injured victims without rapid access to specialised trauma care.
The demand has renewed focus on emergency healthcare infrastructure along high-speed corridors in Karnataka, with Mandya residents hoping for swift action to prevent further loss of life.