Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon introduce a cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims across India. This initiative aims to provide timely medical assistance to reduce fatalities from road accidents.
The scheme, initially piloted in Chandigarh on March 14, 2024, has since expanded to six states. It allows accident victims to receive cashless treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh per victim per accident for a maximum of seven days from the date of the accident.
Cashless Treatment Scheme Details
The Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025, applies to all road accidents involving motor vehicles on any type of road. Victims are entitled to cashless medical care under this scheme, as stated in the official notification.
During a press conference following an annual meeting with transport ministers from all states and Union Territories, Gadkari highlighted the scheme’s significance. The meeting addressed key issues like road safety, public convenience, business facilitation, and automobile regulations.
Current Implementation Status
Since the pilot launch in March 2024, approximately 20% of cashless treatment requests have been denied. Out of 6,833 requests submitted by accident victims, 5,480 were approved. The remaining cases were rejected by the police, as Gadkari informed the Lok Sabha in a written response.
The total funds disbursed under the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund amounted to Rs 73,88,848. This fund supports the financial aspects of the cashless treatment initiative.
The upcoming formal launch by Prime Minister Modi is expected to further enhance access to immediate medical care for road accident victims nationwide. This initiative is part of broader efforts to improve road safety and reduce accident-related deaths through prompt medical intervention.
With inputs from PTI
