Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar has officially launched the action plan for the “Hit and Run Compensation Scheme, 2022” while addressing a special meeting in Chandigarh. The meeting was organised on the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, a day dedicated to honouring people who lost their lives in road crashes and supporting their families. The minister used this occasion to assure that the state will clear 3,324 pending hit-and-run compensation cases.
The minister said that the Punjab government is committed to reducing road crash deaths and strengthening support systems for victims. He added that the new action plan will help increase awareness about road safety and ensure that eligible families receive timely financial help under the compensation scheme.
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is observed worldwide on the third Sunday of November. The day highlights the need to improve road safety and reminds governments and communities to work together to reduce road accidents. During the meeting, officials remembered those who lost their lives and reaffirmed the need for stronger prevention measures.
The “Hit and Run Compensation Scheme, 2022” was introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to support victims of accidents where the offending vehicle cannot be traced. According to the scheme, families of deceased victims receive ₹2,00,000 as financial assistance, while people who suffer grievous injuries receive ₹50,000. This support acts as immediate relief for families who already face emotional and financial difficulties.
As per Punjab Traffic Police records, a total of 3,324 hit-and-run cases from 2022 and 2023 remain pending. These include cases where families have been waiting for months, and in some situations years, to receive their rightful compensation. Minister Laljit Bhullar assured that the government will put in full effort to clear all these pending cases by March 31, 2026. He said that providing timely relief to affected families is a priority and that the government wants to end unnecessary delays.
Officials present at the meeting emphasised that hit-and-run accidents are especially traumatic because families often have no information about the vehicle or the person responsible. In many cases, the victims belong to economically weaker sections, and the compensation becomes an important source of help. The minister said the government recognises this and is determined to implement the scheme properly across the state.
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A major part of the action plan includes training and capacity-building programmes for officials responsible for reviewing and processing compensation cases. R Venkat Ratnam, a retired IAS officer and Director General of the Lead Agency on Road Safety, said that a detailed schedule has been prepared to train officials in different districts. These sessions will take place between November 25 and December 31 across six major district headquarters: Jalandhar, SAS Nagar (Mohali), Bathinda, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Patiala. Nearby districts will also be included in these sessions to ensure maximum coverage.
The training will focus on improving the speed and accuracy with which case documents are uploaded and verified. This step is important because delays often take place due to incomplete paperwork, slow communication between departments, or lack of proper understanding of the procedure. Officials like Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs), Superintendents of Police or DSPs (Traffic), Civil Surgeons, and Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) will be trained to process cases more efficiently.
The sessions will be conducted by Harpreet Singh, a national award-winner for road safety, in collaboration with the NGO “Avoid Accident” and other empanelled organisations working in the field of road safety. These organisations have long-standing experience in dealing with road accident issues, and their participation is expected to help officers understand real ground-level challenges.
To make the process smoother, a detailed checklist has been prepared. This checklist will guide officers in collecting required documents, verifying them, and uploading them correctly. It will also help avoid repeated errors, reduce delays, and ensure that families receive compensation without having to run from office to office. The government hopes that this structured approach will result in faster case disposal and greater public satisfaction.
During the meeting, Laljit Singh Bhullar also emphasised the broader goal of making Punjab’s roads safer. He said that while compensation provides relief after an accident, the long-term aim should be to reduce road accidents altogether. The minister highlighted that road safety awareness will be strengthened at the district level, and more campaigns will be organised to educate people about safe driving practices.
Officials said that many accidents occur due to overspeeding, drunk driving, and careless road behaviour. They stressed the importance of improving road engineering, increasing police monitoring, and encouraging responsible driving among citizens. The government plans to work closely with NGOs, schools, colleges, and community groups to spread awareness.
The meeting ended with a message of commitment and hope. As Punjab launches this action plan, the state aims not only to provide quicker relief to hit-and-run victims but also to ensure safer roads for everyone in the future.
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