The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways held a Regional Manthan Conference on Road Safety in Mumbai on August 24, 2026, bringing together officials from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and the Union Territory of Dadra Nagar Haveli and Daman Diu. The conference, chaired by retired Justice A M Sapre of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, focused on five interconnected programmes designed to reduce road deaths across the country.
Five Road Safety Programmes
Zero Fatality District Initiative: The Ministry has identified 100 districts across 15 states as critical zones, each averaging over 400 deaths annually. These districts will receive comprehensive intervention combining engineering improvements, enforcement, emergency medical care and public education tailored to each area’s specific accident patterns.
PM Rahat Scheme: This provides cashless medical treatment up to Rs. 1.5 lakh for seven days following a road accident, covering all victims regardless of insurance status. The scheme links emergency services, transport and health departments through real-time data systems including integration with the 112 helpline, aiming to ensure patients reach hospitals within the critical first hour after an accident.
Rah-Veer Scheme: Citizens who rush accident victims to hospital within the golden hour can receive a cash reward of Rs. 25,000 per incident plus a certificate. Good Samaritans are protected by law against legal proceedings without their consent.
Sadak Suraksha Mitra Programme: This youth-led initiative engages volunteers aged 18-45, who represent 66.1% of road fatality victims. Trained volunteers work through the MYBharat platform in the top 100 high-fatality districts, taking on roles as crash scene coordinators, data collectors and awareness leads under District Road Safety Committees.
Data-Driven Hyperlocal Interventions: District committees will move from guesswork to evidence-based action through a five-stage cycle: alignment meetings, capacity building, intervention planning, implementation and impact assessment.
What this means for you
If you are injured in a road accident in these regions, you can receive free emergency treatment for a week without worrying about immediate payment. If you help an accident victim reach hospital quickly, you may receive financial recognition and legal protection. States and districts have committed to preparing action plans and district-level road safety strategies aimed at achieving India’s goal of reducing road fatalities by 50% by 2030.