Rs 1.5 Lakh Cashless Treatment for Road Accident Victims by March 2025: Details Inside
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that the Indian government will launch a nationwide scheme offering cashless treatment for road accident victims, set to begin in March. Under this initiative, victims will receive up to Rs 1.5 lakh for medical treatment within the first seven days following an accident. The scheme will apply to accidents involving motor vehicles on all types of roads.
The program will be overseen by the National Health Authority (NHA) in collaboration with police, hospitals and state health agencies. It will operate through an integrated IT platform that combines the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' e-Detailed Accident Report (eDAR) system with the NHA's Transaction Management System. This initiative began as a pilot project in Chandigarh on March 14, 2024 and has since expanded to six other states. Its main objective is to ensure timely medical intervention during the critical "golden hour" after an accident. During the announcement, Gadkari also addressed other ongoing road safety initiatives, such as plans to regulate commercial drivers' working hours, similar to aviation industry rules in order to reduce accidents caused by driver fatigue—a leading factor in fatal crashes. He also noted that there is a shortage of 22 lakh drivers in the country.
At a two-day workshop held on January 6–7, 2025 the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways discussed measures to improve road transport, including speeding up the Vehicle Scrapping Policy, nationwide implementation of PUCC 2.0 and plans for BS-VII norms to reduce pollution. Additionally, Gadkari outlined plans to establish Driver Training Institutes (DTIs) across the country, offering incentives for setting up these centers and additional benefits for integrated infrastructure. He also emphasized the importance of enhancing E-Rickshaw safety through new regulations. Other initiatives discussed during the workshop included introducing Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for trucks, tighter enforcement of retro-reflective tape on vehicles and the implementation of vehicle location tracking devices (VLTD) to ensure the safety of women and children. By March 2025, the government aims to fully integrate all faceless services across the nation.
