To address the rising road fatalities in India, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced on Tuesday that the ongoing pilot scheme providing cashless treatment of up to ₹1.5 lakh for seven days to all crash survivors will be expanded nationwide by March 2025.
The minister also unveiled plans to introduce three mandatory technology-based systems in new buses and trucks. These include an audio warning system to alert drivers when they begin to fall asleep at the wheel. He referenced a ministry report highlighting that trucks were involved in 33,000 fatal crashes in 2022. The announcement came during a two-day workshop with transport secretaries and commissioners from all states.
Gadkari shared updates on the cashless insurance pilot, which has benefitted 6,840 individuals in states like Assam, Chandigarh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, and Haryana. “We hope the nationwide rollout of this scheme will save 50,000 lives by enabling treatment during the golden hour,” he said. Ministry officials confirmed that insights from the pilot states will be incorporated into the final scheme.
The minister noted that road fatalities rose to 1.72 lakh in 2023, a 4.2% increase from the previous year.
In addition to the audio warning system, Gadkari announced two other tech upgrades for heavy vehicles: electronic stability control and automatic emergency braking systems, which will activate when irregular steering patterns are detected. To enhance safety further, the ministry is exploring Aadhaar-based or similar technology to limit commercial drivers to a maximum of eight working hours per day.
The minister also revealed plans to increase the ₹5,000 reward for good Samaritans who assist crash victims. He is collaborating with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to enable air ambulance operations by establishing helipads at roadside amenities and ensuring hospitals are equipped to handle air ambulances.
Highlighting the acute shortage of skilled drivers in India, Gadkari stated that the country needs 22 lakh skilled drivers, with 75% of transport businesses affected by the shortfall. Currently, only 75 drivers are available for every 100 trucks, contributing to 30,000 deaths annually caused by unauthorized drivers. To address this, the government will set up 1,250 driving training centers with central funding.
Regarding environmental standards, the ministry plans to release a draft for Bharat Stage 7 (BS7) emission norms by the end of 2024, with stakeholder consultations beginning mid-2025. Standards for E-rickshaws will also be introduced to improve safety and durability, ensuring operators are not disadvantaged. Additionally, the government is developing a carbon credit-like system to promote a circular economy through its vehicle scrappage policy.
