The road transport and highways ministry Thursday launched pilot projects for cashless treatment of road accident victims.
The ministry signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for two such projects - one on the Vadodara-Mumbai stretch of national highway-8 and the other on the Ranchi-Rargaon-Mahulia stretch of national highway-33.
Under the projects, a toll free number 1033 and a 24x7 call centre will receive information about accidents on the two stretches.
"There will be a provision for deploying GPS-fitted ambulances at every 25 km to shift the accident victims to the nearest hospital in the shortest possible time," said a statement issued by the ministry.
"In case of admission to a private empanelled hospital, cashless treatment for the first 48 hours (two days) within a limit of Rs.30,000 will be provided," it added.
The MoU for the Vadodara-Mumbai stretch was signed with the IFFCO Tokyo General Insurance Company and the one for the Ranchi-Rargaon-Mahulia stretch with the ICICI Lombard general insurance.
The ministry also requested the heavy industries department to fund a scientific investigation of accidents on the two stretches as the department is already conducting such investigations on the Gurgaon-Jaipur stretch.
"Results from the findings will provide inputs for improvements in vehicle design and regulations, road geometry etc., to minimise damages in such accidents in future," it said.