Cashless treatment of road accident victims

By Haryananewswire

CHANDIGARH, JULY 29

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Mr. Oscar Fernandes today launched a  pilot project for cashless treatment of road accident victims on stretch of National Highway No. 8 between Gurgaon  and Jaipur, at a function organized at Shahjhanpur in Rajasthan.

          Haryana Chief Minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Rajasthan Chief Minister Mr Ashok Gehlot  and Union Minister of State for Road Transpor and Highways Mr Tushar Chaudhary were present on the occasion.

Under this project six special ambulances were flagged off to carry  road accident victims to the nearest hospitals. These ambulances would be deployed on this stretch of nation highway.

          Expressing concern over a large number of road accidents occurring in the country, Mr. Fernandes said that the Central Government is committed to take every possible step to make the road travel safer and this pilot project would prove to be a significant measure in this directions. After the success of this pilot project, it would be implemented in the entire country. He also thanked Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Rajasthan Chief Minister, Mr. Ashok Gehlot for extending a helping hand for this project.

          Mr. Fernandes appreciated the suggestion given by Mr. Hooda that those travelling by bullock-carts should also be included in this scheme. Mr. Fernandes said that he would definitely think over it and would soon take a decision. Mr. Fernandes also released a book related to National Ambulance Code prepared by Road Transport and Highways Ministry with the cooperation of AIIMS, New Delhi and other agencies. This book emphasis high parameters on emergency medical ambulance service.

          On this occasion Haryana and Rajasthan Chief Ministers expressed gratitude towards Mr. Fernandes for choosing National Highway No 8 between Gurgaon  and Jaipur for this pilot project and assured their full cooperation.

          Speaking on the occasion Mr. Hooda said that this project would result in decline in the number of road accidents occurring on this road. He said that to provide quick medical facility to the road accident victims in Haryana, ambulance service 102 has been started and seven trauma centres equipped with modern facilities have been set up on National Highways which include one each at Ambala, Karnal, Yamunanagar, Panipat, Rewari, Sirsa and Bahadurgarh. He said that as a result of the efforts made by the Central Government, the number of road accidents has declined considerably. He said that in the year 2011 as many as 11,128 road accidents took place whereas in the year 2012 the figures has decline to 9,920. He also urged the Union Minister to include National Highway – 1, 2 and 10 in the scheme.

          Secretary of Union Road Transport and Highways Ministry, Mr. Vijay Chhiber said that one has to call a toll free No. 1033 in the event of occurrence of any accident at the identified stretch of NH-8. He said that 50 hospitals have been empanelled under this pilot project.