Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced a new scheme of the Indian government that will provide free medical treatment for road accident victims. Starting in March, people injured in road accidents will be eligible for up to Rs 1.5 lakh for medical care within the first seven days after the accident. This scheme will cover accidents involving motor vehicles on all types of roads.

The National Health Authority (NHA) will manage the new program in collaboration with the police, hospitals, and State Health Agencies.The scheme will run through an IT platform that connects the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' e-Detailed Accident Report (SAR) app with the NHA's Transaction Management System.This system will help ensure smooth coordination and quick access to treatment for accident victims.

The program initially launched as a pilot in Chandigarh on March 14, 2024, and has now been extended to six other states. Its main aim is to provide timely medical treatment during the critical "golden hour" after an accident.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also pointed out other efforts to improve road safety, including introducing new rules to limit the working hours of commercial drivers.These rules, similar to those for pilots, aim to reduce driver fatigue, which is a major factor in deadly accidents.

He also addressed the shortage of 22 lakh drivers in the country. During a two-day workshop on January 6–7, 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways discussed several important measures to improve road transport.

These included speeding up the Vehicle Scrapping Policy, implementing PUCC 2.0 nationwide, setting timelines for BS-VII norms, and the expected positive impact on reducing pollution.

Gadkari also announced plans to set up Driver Training Institutes (DTIs) across India. These centres will offer incentives for their establishment, along with additional benefits for integrated infrastructure development.
The Union Minister also talked about the need to introduce new safety rules for E-Rickshaws to protect passengers better.

The workshop also focused on several other key initiatives, like adding Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to trucks for safer driving, making retro-reflective tape on vehicles more strictly enforced, and using vehicle location tracking devices (VLTD) to keep women and children safe.

Gadkari also shared that by March 2025, all government services will be fully online, making processes faster, more efficient, and accessible for everyone.