Free treatment up to Rs1.5 lakh for accident victims: Deputy CM

Patna: Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Choudhary, who also holds the transport portfolio, said here on Sunday victims of road accidents would receive free medical treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh at emergency trauma centres (ETCs). The department has also decided to implement the integrated traffic management system (ITMS) under the public private partnership (PPP) mode in the state capital and other major cities to ensure technological surveillance and curb violations of traffic rules and norms.Vijay, who reviewed the department’s programmes directly linked to public interest, said, “The decision to provide free medical treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh per victim at the state’s ETCs has been taken to reduce the mortality rate in road accidents. The critical accident victims should be rushed to the ETCs without wasting time to save their lives.”Among those present at the review meeting were transport secretary Raj Kumar, state transport commissioner Arif Ahsan and additional secretary Praveen Kumar, along with other senior officials. Discussions centred on road safety, driving tests and water transport.The minister asked officials concerned to classify road accidents into minor and major categories and identify the underlying causes along with the proportion of deaths. “On the basis of such an assessment, a road safety work plan should be prepared for implementation to reduce road accidents and deaths,” he said.Officials informed him a decision had already been taken to introduce technological surveillance to monitor violations of traffic rules and norms. Accordingly, the ITMS would be implemented under the PPP mode in the state capital and other major cities to make traffic management smarter and smoother, ease congestion and ensure strict enforcement of rules.Vijay directed officials to develop a district-wise tracking module to bring all registered and trained drivers under a unified system, creating a state-level database. Appealing to drivers of heavy motor vehicles (HMVs), such as trucks and buses, to undergo training, he said those failing to attend even after three reminders should face penalties. He also emphasised de-siltation of rivers to promote water transport.The transport secretary said the department has introduced an incentive scheme for HMV drivers opting for training. A facility for drive testing has also been introduced at the district level to simplify the process of obtaining driving licences.