Road accidents: Kerala implements 'PM-RAHAT'; to provide ₹1.5 lakh for treatment
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala has implemented the Central Government's PM-RAHAT scheme on a pilot basis at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College, providing immediate medical treatment costs of up to ₹1.5 lakh for those critically injured in road accidents. The update was announced by State Transport Minister C P John.
The benefit under this scheme will be universal. To claim this financial assistance, accident details must be uploaded online to the designated central portal within 24 hours of the incident, and a First Information Report (FIR) must be registered. In cases of minor injuries, a 48-hour window will be permitted to register the case. Hospitals are required to set up the necessary infrastructure to support this system, and the overall expenditure will be borne by the Transport Department.
"One injured individual has already received medical assistance under this framework. Plans are also under consideration to bring private empanelled hospitals under the ambit of the scheme," the Minister said.
Major policy reforms by the Transport Department
Alongside the health scheme, the Transport Department has rolled out several key operational updates.
- Public access hours: Visitors will now be permitted at Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) offices between 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm.
- Flexible fitness tests: Transport vehicles have been granted permission to undergo fitness tests at any MVD office across the state.
- Traffic fine rebate: A new initiative offering a 50% discount on accumulated fines for traffic violations will be implemented shortly.
- Crackdown on sound systems: Special enforcement drives will be launched to identify and remove illegal, high-decibel audio setups from tourist buses.
- Vehicle modifications banned: Dangerous and unauthorised alterations to vehicles will face strict non-tolerance.
- Transport coordination committee: A unified committee has been constituted to streamline and coordinate the execution of various projects running under the department.