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Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has  announced Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon launch the cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims across India. The initiative aims to provide timely medical care to accident victims and reduce fatalities caused by treatment delays.

The scheme, first piloted in Chandigarh in March 2024, was later expanded to six states. Under the programme, victims are entitled to cashless medical treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh per accident for a period of seven days from the date of the accident. It covers all road accidents involving motor vehicles, irrespective of road category.

Reducing Fatalities through Timely Interventio

Speaking at a press conference after an annual meeting of transport ministers from all states and Union Territories, Gadkari highlighted the scheme’s role in strengthening India’s road safety framework. “The Prime Minister will formally launch the cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims soon,” he said.

The scheme is designed to address the high number of deaths caused by delays in medical intervention. “Any person who is a victim of a road accident arising from the use of a motor vehicle on any road will be entitled to cashless treatment under this programme,” a government notification stated.

Since the pilot launch, the scheme has processed 6,833 treatment requests, of which 5,480 victims were approved. The remaining applications were rejected following police verification. To date, the total funds disbursed under the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund amount to ₹73,88,848.

Pilot Programme Shows Promising Results

The pilot programme demonstrated that cashless treatment could significantly improve timely access to medical care for accident victims. Nearly 20 percent of applications were rejected during the pilot, highlighting the importance of verification and streamlined processes.

As the scheme expands nationwide, authorities expect it to enhance road safety measures, support victims more efficiently, and provide a safety net for families affected by road accidents. Officials say the initiative is part of a broader push to improve public convenience, road safety, and ease of doing business in the transport sector.

BY ADVIK GUPTA