Road ministry to set up safety councils at districts and state levels

The ministry of road transport and highways will set up a road safety council at district and state levels and the general insurance council (GI Council) for effective implementation of the Compensation to Victims of Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2025.

In draft rules governing the scheme, issued on Friday, the ministry has sought comments from stakeholders within 30 days after which the amendments to the scheme will come into effect from the date of notification.

As per the proposed Compensation to Victims of Hit and Run Motor Accidents (Amendment) Scheme, 2025, the district and state level road safety council will evaluate the implementation of the scheme in the concerned district and state respectively and take corrective steps, wherever necessary.


Besides, it will be responsible to maintain month-wise statistics, including in electronic form, about the claim applications received, awarded or pending and reasons for pendency in the concerned district and in each state, it said in the draft notification.

“The council will also keep close liaison with other authorities in the district and the state to ensure that this scheme gets adequate publicity, will provide guidance to claimants, wherever called for, will help to raise awareness about the rights available to claimants and the provision of compensation under this scheme and furnish information in respect of this scheme to the agency or authority responsible,” it added.

The government, in May, notified a cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims nationwide, under which they will be entitled to a maximum amount of Rs 1.5 lakh per accident per person.

As per the road ministry data, a total number of 1,72,890 road accident fatalities were reported in 2023, a 1.6% increase from the previous year, with over-speeding being the primary cause.