Noida: To streamline the Centre’s cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims, Noida district magistrate Manish Kumar Verma has appointed additional DM Manglesh Dubey as the grievance redressal officer. The DM and transport department have issued guidelines for implementing cashless treatment for road accident victims in the districtThe scheme, launched under Section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, is designed to provide immediate medical care during the ‘Golden Hour’ following an accident, with coverage of up to Rs 1.5 lakh for treatment received within the first seven days at empanelled hospitals, including those under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY).In June, TOI had reported the scheme’s rollout was delayed in NCR districts, where some hospitals claimed to be awaiting state-level empowerment directives before they could offer cashless services. A guideline and details of the cashless treatment scheme have also been shared by Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Udit Narayan Pandey.As per eligibility criteria, victims of a motor vehicle accident on any road in the country who require trauma or poly-trauma care are entitled to cashless treatment. The scheme applies to all types of road vehicles as defined in Section 2(28) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. In terms of treatment facilities, immediate treatment will be provided to victims in empanelled hospitals, including those covered by the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana. Treatment begins immediately upon hospitalisation without any initial payment.For coverage, the guideline states that, in cases of serious injuries, treatment up to a maximum of seven days or costing up to Rs 1.5 lakh, whichever is earlier, will be covered. In hit-and-run cases, financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for death and Rs 50,000 for serious injuries will also be provided. To ensure smooth operation of the scheme and quick resolution of complaints, additional district magistrate (Administration) Manglesh Dubey has been appointed as the grievance redressal officer in GB Nagar.“The scheme is an important step in road safety and aligns with the national target of reducing road accident mortality by 50%. All registered hospitals under this scheme in GB Nagar have been directed to provide immediate treatment to victims,” said Pandey.According to the ARTO, to claim under hit-and-run provisions, victims or their legal heirs must submit prescribed forms along with details to the investigating officer, whose report, followed by approval from the claims settlement commissioner, triggers e-payment within 15 to 45 days. For any complaint or assistance, victims can contact the additional district magistrtate.“Providing immediate medical assistance to road accident victims is a priority and through this scheme, every victim in the district will receive timely treatment,” said DM Verma.
