Low Awareness of Road Accident Compensation Schemes in Lucknow Despite Rising Accidents
In Lucknow, a concerning gap exists between the high number of road accidents and the low uptake of government compensation schemes designed to aid victims and their families. According to official norms, the government provides Rs 2 lakh in compensation to the kin of deceased victims in hit-and-run cases, Rs 1.5 lakh for cashless treatment of injured persons, and a Rs 25,000 reward along with a commendation card for Good Samaritans who rescue accident victims within the critical 'golden hour' and rush them to a hospital.
Alarming Statistics Reveal Underutilization of Schemes
However, awareness of these benefits appears severely lacking. This is starkly illustrated by the fact that only 10 applications were submitted for hit-and-run death compensation in a period when the district recorded 128 deaths and 321 injuries from road accidents over just two months. Furthermore, only two individuals were identified as 'Good Samaritans' under the Rah-Veer scheme during this timeframe.
These details emerged during a recent review meeting of the commissioner-level road safety committee held on Saturday. The data underscores a critical disconnect between the availability of financial aid and public knowledge or access to these crucial support systems.
Comparative Analysis Shows Rising Accident Rates
Under the jurisdiction of the Lucknow divisional commissioner, Lucknow district witnessed 342 road accidents in January and February of the current calendar year. This figure represents a significant 26.2% increase compared to the 271 accidents recorded in the same two-month period in 2025.
Last year, during January and February, there were 99 fatalities and 187 injuries from road accidents. Out of the total 99 deaths, only 24 applications were received for hit-and-run death compensation. Of these, merely four were approved, with 20 remaining pending. Notably, not a single person was identified for the Rah-Veer scheme during that period.
Prabhat Pandey, the RTO enforcement officer in Lucknow, commented on the situation, stating, "During the quarterly review in the commissioner-level road safety committee meeting, it was found that among six districts, Lucknow's road accident, casualties, and injured victims figures were higher than all—showing increases of 26.2%, 29.3%, and 71.7% respectively in comparison to last year."
Identification of Accident-Prone Blackspots
The review meeting also identified 75 accident-prone blackspots within Lucknow district. These include 59 spots marked by the Public Works Department (PWD), 14 by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), and one each by NH-PWD and UPIEDA. In 2024, departments had recorded 60 blackspots and managed to rectify 28 in the state capital.
An official noted, "While NHAI and PWD are steadily progressing in rectifying the blackspots, a concern was raised on the rising death toll, which could be brought down with effective implementation of road safety measures—particularly timely medical assistance. This could be improved by promoting cashless treatment and the Rah-Veer scheme."
Details of Government Compensation Schemes
The PM-RAHAT scheme (Road Accident Victim's Hospitalisation and Assured Treatment), which was rolled out in 2025 and launched in February 2026, provides Rs 1.5 lakh for cashless treatment, covering up to a maximum of seven days of care in government-empanelled hospitals. This initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on accident victims and ensure prompt medical attention.
Concurrently, the Rah-Veer scheme incentivizes public assistance by awarding Rs 25,000 to citizens who save the lives of road accident victims within the golden hour, a critical period immediately following an accident when medical intervention is most effective.
The low application rates for these schemes suggest that despite their availability, widespread dissemination and public education efforts are urgently needed to bridge the awareness gap and ensure that victims and their families receive the support they are entitled to.
