PM Narendra Modi speaks on road accidents, social issues; avoids politics

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, expressing concern over the high number of casualties in road accidents, announced that the government will enact a Road Transport and Safety legislation and promised cashless treatment for accident victims in the first 50 crucial hours to minimise the fatalities due to accidents.

“The statistics on road accidents in our country are shocking. There is an accident every minute. And ... there is a death every four minutes,” the PM said, during his monthly ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address to the nation.

He announced expansion of the project under which cashless treatment will be given to accident victims, who will not have to worry for the first 50 hours as to who will pay for the treatment.

Given the good start of monsoon, the PM also expressed satisfaction over kharif sowing and praised farmers for increased acreage of pulses and oilseeds during the kharif sowing so far. The PM also hailed the valour and sacrifice of the jawans on the day the country celebrated the Kargil Vijay Diwas.