The government has proposed a steep hike in compensation for the families of individuals who are killed in hit-and-run road accidents. The amount has been raised to Rs 2 lakh from Rs 25,000. In case of a person sustaining grievous injuries due to such an accident, the compensation amount will be Rs 50,000.

The road transport and highways ministry has proposed a scheme to enhance the compensation amount for hit-and-run road accident victims. There were a total of 4,49,002 road accidents in the country in 2019 causing 1,51,113 deaths, as per official data.

A draft scheme was notified by the ministry on August 2.

The Scheme for Compensation of Hit and Run Accident Victims seeks to enhance "compensation (from Rs 12,500 to Rs 50,000 for grievous hurt and from Rs 25,000 to Rs 2,00,000 for death)," an official statement said on Wednesday, August 4.

"This scheme will supersede the earlier Solatium Scheme, 1989," it added.

Under the draft scheme, the ministry has proposed the procedure for detailed investigations of road accidents. There will be a Detailed Accident Report (DAR) and its reporting along with timelines for different stakeholders for quick settlements of claims.

The government will set up a Motor Vehicles Accident Fund, which will be used for providing compensation in case of hit-and-run accidents and treatment for accident victims.

Recently, the Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari told the Rajya Sabha that 536 persons were killed and 1,655 persons were injured in accidents categorised as 'hit-and-run' in the national capital in 2019.

According to the proposed scheme, investigation of the criminal case will be completed by the police within 60 days of the accident.

The road transport and highways ministry has sought comments from stakeholders in 30 days.