The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified a new scheme for compensation of victims of Hit and Run motor accidents.
The compensation to the kin of death victims of hit-and-run mishaps will be increased by eight-fold to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 25000, according to a circular by the Road Transport and Highways Ministry.
The solatium to a person sustaining grievous wounds in hit-and-run case will now increase to Rs 50,000 from the present Rs 12,500, the government in the notification issued on February 25 said.
The new regulations under the 'Compensation to Victims of Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme', 2022 shall come into force with effect from April 1, 2022. It will supersede the earlier Solatium Scheme, 1989 from April 1, 2022, onwards," the Transport Ministry said in the release.
The process of application for compensation and the release of payment to victims has also been made time bound.
The ministry has also published rules on February 25 regarding creation, operation, sources of fund etc of the Motor Vehicles Accident Fund.
"This fund shall be used for providing compensation in case of Hit & Run Accident, treatment for accident victims and any other purpose, as may be specified by the Central Government," the release stated.
Under the provision, the government has specified the procedure for detailed investigations of road mishaps, Detailed Accident Report (DAR) and the timelines for different stakeholders for quick settlements of claims.
According to the data released by the NCRB under the Union Ministry in October last year, India recorded 3,54,796 cases of road accidents during 2020 in which 1,33,201 people died and 3,35,201 were injured.