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The decision was taken after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari chaired an annual meeting of Transport Ministers from all States and Union Territories in New Delhi.
Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari at an annual meeting of Transport Ministers. (X/@nitin_gadkari)
In a significant decision, the Central government will now offer free treatment for up to seven days for road accident victims, and in the case of a death, the family of the deceased will receive a compensation of Rs 2 lakh.
The decision was taken after Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday chaired an annual meeting of Transport Ministers from all States and Union Territories in New Delhi.
“The meeting witnessed constructive deliberations on key issues including road safety, passenger and public convenience, ease of doing business, and automobile regulations,” Gadkari said on X.
“As transport is a Concurrent Subject under the Constitution, close coordination between the Union and State Governments is essential. Such regular interactions are vital to ensure policy alignment, strengthen cooperative federalism, and deliver efficient, safe, and citizen-centric transport solutions across the country.
📍???????????? ????????????????????Chaired the Annual Meeting of Transport Ministers from all States and Union Territories in New Delhi today. The meeting witnessed constructive deliberations on key issues including road safety, passenger and public convenience, ease of doing business, and… pic.twitter.com/ikiAhsiANc
— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) January 8, 2026
After the deliberations, the government decided to take an important decision in terms of road accidents. Victims will receive free medical treatment for up to seven days in hospitals, and the government will also bear treatment expenses up to Rs 1.5 lakh. In case of a death due to an accident, the family of the deceased will receive a compensation of Rs 2 lakh, instead of Rs 25,000.
What Was Discussed In The Meeting?
The meeting focused on several important issues, including a cashless treatment scheme, a new driving training policy, a revised policy for hit and run cases, a centralised vehicle movement, road regulations and more.
A cashless treatment scheme has been implemented as a pilot project, where an injured person will be immediately admitted to a hospital and provided with cashless treatment. The government will cover treatment expenses for up to seven days.
After a meeting with the Prime Minister, the scheme will be officially named and inaugurated, following which it will be implemented across the entire country.
A new driving training policy will be launched on January 25, 2026, which is aimed at plugging the shortage of 22 lakh drivers in the country. Under this scheme, diving training centres will be opened across different states, and a structured training program will be used to ensure the availability of skilled drivers.
The government is also aiming to work more effectively to settle claims related to hit-and-run cases. The compensation for such cases has been increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 50,000, and in case of death, compensation has been raised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2 lakh.
The government will also introduce advanced technology under the V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle) objective for centralised monitoring, fog management, and better coordination. Buses will also be equipped with facilities such as wheelchairs and hydraulic steps to support persons with disabilities.
A revised bus code has also been implemented to prevent accidents due to arbitrary and unsafe designs. As per this code, manual bus body builders must first obtain Type-A certification, and sleeper buses will only be manufactured by authorised manufacturing companies.
The government also mulled major reforms in terms of road regulations, investment, road infrastructure and manufacturing codes.
January 08, 2026, 8:08 PM IST
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