Compensation for victims of road accidents should be multiplied by eight in the event of death, the government announced Wednesday of a new scheme.
The plan increases the amount from 12,500 to 50,000 for serious injuries and from 25,000 to 2,000,000 for deaths where the vehicle that caused the accident cannot be found. This program replaces the Solatium program, 1989.
The Department of Road Transport and Highways requested stakeholder comments within 30 days. The proposed regime provides for a 60-day period for the investigation and resolution of the claim from the time the claim is made.
Compensation will be issued from an account dedicated to these accidents under the Road Accident Fund.
According to the regulations notified to this Fund, the contribution will come from national highway tolls collected by the central government, budget subsidies and fines levied on road contractors, consultants or franchisees because of poor design, construction and maintenance of the roads.