Free treatment for first 50 hours

Speaking on Mann Ki Baat, his monthly radio programme, the PM also invited suggestions from the public which could form part of his Independence Day speech this year.

While talking about various social issues, Mr Modi avoided politics at a time when Parliament is unable to function because of a deadlock with the Opposition.

Talking about road accidents, he mentioned the case of a scooter rider lying bleeding on a road in Delhi with no one coming to his help. “In India an accident takes place every minute and a death due to these takes place every four minutes,” the PM noted.

Keeping this in mind, the government will soon bring a Road Transport and Safety Bill, he said. The government is also planning other important measures, like putting in place a National Road Safety Policy and Road Safety Action Plan, he added.

The Prime Minister said that a project for cashless treatment of accident victims, wherein the victim does not have to worry for the first 50 hours about who pays the money for treatment, will also be launched soon. The project will be launched in Gurgaon, Jaipur and Vadodara, and then on the Mumbai, Ranchi, Rungaon and Maurya National Highways.