Lok Sabha Question No. 124 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-01-29
Subject: National Highway Safety Policy
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Suresh Kumar Shetkar

be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether  the  Ministry  proposes  to  institute  a  comprehensive national  highway  safety  policy  mandating  service  roads,  pedestrian underpasses and scientifically designed junctions as compulsory features rather than optional measures introduced only after fatalities occur, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  whether  the  Ministry  has  identified  persistent  black  spots  on national highways that continue to pose life-threatening risks to daily commuters  and  the  urgent  measures  being  implemented  to  prevent further accidents on such stretches, if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  mandate  that  all  future national  highways  passing  through  habitations  include  continuous service  roads  for  segregation  of  local  traffic  to  proactively  prevent recurring accidents and safety failures, if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  any  independent  third-party  road  safety  audits  are  being conducted after construction of national highways or whether contractors are still permitted to self-certify compliance raising concerns about accountability and commuter safety, if so, the details thereof; and

(e)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  provide  compensation  and rehabilitation to families of victims who lost their lives due to delayed safety interventions and design-related negligence on national highways, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 124 ANSWERED ON 29 TH  JANUARY, 2026

## NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY POLICY

## 124.           SHRI SURESH KUMAR SHETKAR:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

(a) to (d)    Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is primarily  responsible  for  development,  operation  and  maintenance  of National  Highways  (NHs).  All  NHs  works  are  carried  out  as  per standards, guidelines, manual,  code  of practice of Indian  Roads Congress  as  well as specifications for Road  and  Bridge Works. Necessary  road  safety  measures  which,inter-alia,include  provision  of crash  barriers,  signage  boards,  foot  over  bridges,  etc.  are  taken  up during design, construction, operation and maintenance stages.

Road  Safety  Audit  is  carried  out  for  the  independent  assessment  of newly constructed roads before opening them to commercial traffic. All identified road safety issues, including those related to road signages and markings, are addressed before the road is opened to the public. Subsequently, during the operation of the project highway, assessment is  carried  out  at  regular  intervals  to  identify  safety  issues  that  may have  emerged  during  operation  stage  and  any  necessary  remedial measures  are  taken  in  a  time-bound  manner.  Besides  this,  accident data on all existing and new national highways is monitored on a panIndia basis through the eDAR  portal (Integrated Road Accident Database), and accident spots are identified. Further, all field officers have been delegated powers to take advance remedial action on these identified  accident  spots,  preventing  them  from  being  converted  to blackspots.

Also,  identified  blackspots  are  rectified  by  carrying  out  short-term measures  like  road  markings,  signages,  crash  barriers,  road  studs, delineators,  closure  of  unauthorized  median  openings,  traffic  calming measures,  etc.  in  a  time  bound  manner.  Further,  long-term  measures like  improvement  of  road  geometrics,  junction  improvements,  spot widening of carriageway, construction of underpasses/overpasses, etc. are  also  taken  as  permanent  rectification  measures  based  on  road safety audit report and site conditions.

- (e)     As  per  section  161  of  Motor  Vehicles  Act,  1988  the  Central Government provides compensation in respect of the death of persons resulting from hit and run motor accidents. Accordingly, the Compensation to Victims of Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2022 has been notified by the Government vide G.S.R. 163(E) dated the 25th February, 2022. Under this scheme, a fixed sum of Rupees Two Lakh is provided to legal representatives of the deceased in case of the death of  an  accident victim due to hit and run motor accident. The scheme guidelines also has provision for providing compensation of an amount of Rs. 50000/- in case of grievous injury.

As per section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Government has formulated a scheme to provide cashless treatment to the victims of road accidents caused by the use of motor vehicles. The key features of the scheme are summarised as under:

- i. Victims are entitled to cashless treatment upto Rs. 1.5 lakh per victim per accident for a maximum period of 7 days from the date of accident.
- ii. To be implemented by National Health Authority (NHA) in coordination with State Governments (Police, empaneled hospitals, State Health Agency (SHA)) etc.
- iii. Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri-Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PM-JAY) packages for trauma and polytrauma care have been co-opted.
- iv. Claims raised by hospitals for providing treatment to be reimbursed from the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund.

Government has notified the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme,  2025  on  5 th May, 2025. The  detailed guidelines including process flow, stakeholder wise standard operating procedures and clearly delineated roles and responsibilities have also been notified on 4 th  June, 2025. Further,  the  Government  has  constituted  the  Motor  Vehicle  Accident Fund as per the mandate of section 164B of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which is to be utilised, inter alia, for treatment of the persons injured in the  road  accidents  in  accordance  with  the  scheme  framed  under section  162  of  the  Motor  Vehicles  Act,  1988.  The  Fund  includes contributions  pooled  from  general  insurance  companies  as  well  as budgetary grant by the Government.

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