New Delhi [India] – Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has unveiled the “Cashless Treatment” scheme to support road accident victims, offering financial coverage of up to ₹1.5 lakh for seven days of medical treatment. This initiative aims to ensure immediate assistance to those injured in road accidents.
Gadkari explained that the scheme requires the accident to be reported to the police within 24 hours for the government to bear the treatment costs. He also announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹2 lakh for families of deceased victims in hit-and-run cases.
“We have started a new scheme – Cashless Treatment. Immediately after an accident occurs, within 24 hours, when the information goes to the Police, we will provide expenses for seven-day treatment of the patient who gets admitted or a maximum of up to ₹1.5 lakhs for treatment. We will also provide ₹2 lakh for the deceased in hit-and-run cases,” stated Gadkari.
The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways emphasized the government’s commitment to road safety, noting the alarming statistic of 1.80 lakh deaths caused by road accidents in 2024. Among these fatalities, 30,000 were due to the absence of helmets.
“In 2024, 1.80 lakh deaths occurred due to road accidents, and 30,000 people lost their lives because they were not wearing helmets. Additionally, 66% of accidents involved individuals aged 18 to 34,” he added.
Highlighting the vulnerability of children, Gadkari revealed that 10,000 children died in accidents caused by inadequate arrangements at entry and exit points near schools and colleges.
“10,000 children have died due to a lack of proper arrangements at the exit-entry points in front of schools and colleges. Rules have also been established for school autorickshaws and minibuses to address this issue. We are identifying black spots and working collectively to reduce accidents,” Gadkari said.
The announcement was made during a meeting chaired by Gadkari at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, where Transport Ministers from all states and union territories gathered to discuss transportation policies and collaborative efforts to enhance road safety.