New Delhi, January 08, 2025.
Nitin Gadkari stated that the government would bear the cost of treatment if the police are informed about the accident within 24 hours.
To counter the trend of rising road fatalities across India, union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari announced the ongoing pilot initiative to provide cashless treatment up to ₹1.5 lakh for seven days for all crash survivors will be expanded to all states by March 2025.
He also announced that the ministry will make a mandatory introduction of three new tech-based systems for new buses and trucks including an audio warning system to alert drivers when they are falling asleep on the wheel.
He cited a ministry report stating 33,000 people were killed by trucks impacting vehicle in 2022. The minister was speaking after the ministry held workshops and meetings with transport secretaries and commissioners of all states for two days.
On the cashless insurance scheme, Gadkari said so far, 6,840 people have benefitted from this pilot scheme active in states such as Assam, Chandigarh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, and Haryana.
“We hope once the scheme is launched, we will be able to help save 50,000 lives by ensuring treatment in the golden hour,” he said.
