Govt to roll out cashless treatment for road accident victims

January 13, 2025 Finance Talk Valli Sarvani

The Central government is taking a significant step towards improving emergency medical care for road accident victims across India.

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari announced a revamped scheme on January 7, 2025, which will ensure cashless treatment for accident victims nationwide.

Under the scheme, each victim will be eligible for up to ₹1.5 lakh in medical expenses per accident for a maximum of seven days.

This initiative will apply to all motor vehicle-related road accidents, irrespective of the road category.

The National Health Authority (NHA) will spearhead its implementation, collaborating with police, hospitals, and State Health Agencies.

The programme will rely on a robust IT platform, integrating the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ e-Detailed Accident Report application with NHA’s Transaction Management System.

The cashless treatment scheme builds on a pilot programme launched by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in March 2024.

Initially rolled out in Chandigarh, the pilot aimed to provide timely medical assistance to accident victims, especially during the critical golden hour. Over time, it expanded to six states, creating a framework for the nationwide rollout.

During a press conference, Gadkari emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing critical issues in road transport.

He highlighted plans to frame policies for regulating working hours for commercial drivers, inspired by aviation industry standards.

Driver fatigue, a major contributor to fatal accidents, is a growing concern as India faces a shortage of 22 lakh drivers.

On January 6-7, 2025, MoRTH organized a workshop to deliberate on key measures to transform the road transport sector.

Many points were included in the discussion. These include the accelerated implementation of the Vehicle Scrapping Policy and pan-India adoption of PUCC 2.0. It also focussed on timelines for introducing BS-VII emission norms.

The anticipated reduction in pollution with these advancements was also a focal point.

The government’s modified scheme marks a significant step towards strengthening road safety and emergency care, potentially saving countless lives across the country.

Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on March 20, 2017