Lok Sabha Question No. 1962 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-11
Subject: Road Accidents due to Potholes
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Mani A

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1962 ANSWERED ON 11 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## ROAD ACCIDENTS DUE TO POTHOLES

## 1962. SHRI MANI A:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  road  accidents  caused due  to  potholes  on  National  Highways  passing  through  Tamil Nadu   especially  in  Dharmapuri  district,  if so, the  details thereof;
- (b) the number of such accidents reported in Tamil Nadu particularly in Dharmapuri during the last three years and the current year;
- (c) whether  any  compensation  has  been  provided  to  accident victims affected due to potholes on National Highways in Tamil Nadu including Dharmapuri, if so, the details  thereof,  districtwise and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  put  in  place  any  mechanism  to regularly monitor and identify potholes on National Highways in Tamil Nadu especially in the Dharmapuri stretch and if so, the
- details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)  and  (b)      As  per  the  data  received  from  Police  Departments  of States/ UTs, total number of road accidents in the State of Tamil Nadu caused on account of Potholes during the years 2021 to 2024 is given below :-

| No. of Road Accidents in Tamil Nadu   | No. of Road Accidents in Tamil Nadu   |
|---------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| Year                                  | Road Accidents                        |
| 2021                                  | 459                                   |
| 2022                                  | 446                                   |
| 2023                                  | 620                                   |
| 2024                                  | 360                                   |

As per the data, road accidents occur due to multiple causes such as over-speeding, use of mobile phone while driving, drunken driving/consumption of alcohol, driving on wrong side/ lane indiscipline, jumping red light, non-use of safety devices such as helmets and seat belts, vehicular condition, weather condition, road condition, etc. (c)    As per Section 161 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988,  compensation is provided 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 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  provisions  for  providing compensation  of  an  amount  of  Rupees  Fifty  Thousand  in  case  of grievous injury. As per section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, 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. Under the scheme, road accident victim is entitled for cashless treatment  upto  Rs.  1.5  lakh  per  victim  per  accident  for  a  maximum period of 7 days from date of accident. (d)     Potholes  are  identified  during  regular  inspection  of  the  project stretches  by  the  field  Officers.  Besides,  potholes  are  also  identified with the help of drone survey and network survey vehicles.  Inputs from road users, through 'Rajamargyatra App' are also considered.

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