Road Accident Victims Will Be Met With Cashless Treatment: Government Of India

The Indian government is set to implement a nationwide cashless treatment programme for road accident victims by March 2025. The Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari revealed that accident victims will receive medical coverage of up to ₹1.5 lakh per person, with treatment available for seven days following the incident.

The initiative expands upon a pilot programme launched in Chandigarh last March, which was later extended to six states. The National Health Authority (NHA) will oversee the programme's implementation, working alongside police departments, healthcare facilities, and state health agencies.

The system will operate through an integrated IT platform that combines the e-Detailed Accident Report system with NHA's Transaction Management System. The coverage will extend to accidents involving motor vehicles on all road types.

Alongside the above, Gadkari also addressed matters of other transportation safety concerns, He mentioned plans to regulate commercial drivers' working hours, similar to airline pilots' schedules, further noting how India has an acute shortage of 22 lakh drivers. Additional safety measures were also discussed including regularising new e-rickshaws, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for trucks, and vehicle tracking systems to protect women and children.