New Delhi, Jan 8 (UNI) Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that all road accident victims shall be eligible for cashless treatment up to Rs. 1.5 Lakh for a maximum period of seven days.
Chairing the annual meeting of transport ministers from all States and union Territories in New Delhi on Thursday, he said that in hit and run cases, the compensation is going to increase from Rs 12,500 to Rs 50,000 in case of grievous hurt, and to Rs 2,00,000 in case of death.
He also said that in the next session of the parliament, amendments are going to be proposed in the Motor Vehicle Act, based on major themes that include improving road safety, ease of doing business, citizen services, improved regulations, improved mobility, emission regulations, simplified definitions, languages, and harmonization with the global standards.
He also called for close coordination between the centre and state governments regarding ‘transport,’ with the same being a concurrent subject under the constitution.
Gadkari said that such regular interactions are vital to ensure policy alignment, strengthen cooperative federalism, and deliver efficient, safe, and citizen-centric transport solutions across the length and breadth of the country.
According to the union minister, the meeting saw constructive deliberations on key issues such as road safety, passenger and public convenience, ease of doing business, and automobile regulations.
Sadak Suraksha Abhiyaan, Zero Fatality Districts Programme, Scrapping Policy, Bus Body Code, Accessibility for Divyangjans, BNCAP 2.0, and ADAS in Trucks and Buses were part of the agenda of the meeting.
Mukesh Agnihotri, the Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Transport of Himachal Pradesh, raised several important issues concerning the sector in the state and sought the central government’s support in addressing them.
Agnihorti requested that the taxi permit validity be increased to 15 years or till the time the vehicle is fit to ply on roads.
He said the union minister has assured that the necessary amendments in the Motor Vehicles Act would be brought in the ensuing next session of Parliament where this issue shall be addressed.
The minister of transport Telangana said that a request was made to the union Minister for an IDTR (Institute of Driving Training and Research) in Telangana.
