**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Minister of Road Transport and Highways' response to Unstarred Question No. 1962 in the Lok Sabha, answered on December 11th, 2025. The question pertains to road accidents caused by potholes on National Highways in Tamil Nadu. The response includes accident statistics from 2021-2024, compensation provisions, and monitoring mechanisms for pothole identification.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Accident Statistics (2021-2024):**
* The total number of road accidents in Tamil Nadu caused by potholes from 2021 to 2024 is as follows:
* 2021: 459
* 2022: 446
* 2023: 620
* 2024: 360
* The response notes that road accidents occur due to multiple causes in addition to potholes, such as over-speeding, use of mobile phones while driving, and drunken driving/consumption of alcohol.
* **Compensation for Accident Victims:**
* As per Section 161 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, compensation is provided for deaths resulting from hit-and-run motor accidents.
* The Compensation to Victims of Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2022, provides Rupees Two Lakh to legal representatives in case of death and Rupees Fifty Thousand in case of grievous injury.
* **Cashless Treatment Scheme:**
* The Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025, was notified on May 5th, 2025.
* Road accident victims are entitled to cashless treatment up to Rs. 1.5 lakh per victim per accident for a maximum period of 7 days from the date of the accident.
* **Pothole Monitoring and Identification:**
* Potholes are identified during regular inspections by field officers.
* Drone surveys and network survey vehicles are also used for pothole identification.
* Road users can report potholes through the 'Rajamargyatra App'.
**Impact Analysis**
**Road Accident Victims**
*Impact:*
The scheme ensures victims have the means to receive financial compensation and treatment.
*Action Required:*
Victims should be aware of the compensation and cashless treatment schemes available to them in the event of an accident.
**Ministry of Road Transport and Highways**
*Impact:*
The ministry has a responsibility to monitor potholes, provide compensation, and ensure cashless treatment is available.
*Action Required:*
The ministry must continue with pothole monitoring and maintain awareness of the compensation and cashless treatment schemes.
**Police Departments of States/UTs**
*Impact:*
The police departments play a key role in collecting and reporting data on road accidents related to potholes.
*Action Required:*
The police departments are required to submit data on accidents.
Key Entities Referenced
Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: Indian law that provides for the regulation of road transport vehicles in India.
Compensation to Victims of Hit and Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2022: An Indian scheme providing financial compensation to victims of hit-and-run motor accidents or their legal representatives.
Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025: An Indian scheme that provides cashless treatment to road accident victims.
Tamil Nadu: An Indian state to which the data regarding road accidents caused due to potholes is relevant.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: Indian ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of road infrastructure.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1962
ANSWERED ON 11TH DECEMBER, 2025
ROAD ACCIDENTS DUE TO POTHOLES
1962. SHRI MANI A:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् गमत्रं ी
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of road accidents caused
due to potholes on National Highways passing through Tamil
Nadu especially in Dharmapuri district, if so, the details
thereof;
(b) the number of such accidents reported in Tamil Nadu
particularly in Dharmapuri during the last three years and the
current year;
(c) whether any compensation has been provided to accident
victims affected due to potholes on National Highways in Tamil
Nadu including Dharmapuri, if so, the details thereof, district-
wise and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) whether the Government has put in place any mechanism to
regularly monitor and identify potholes on National Highways in
Tamil Nadu especially in the Dharmapuri stretch and if so, the
details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) and (b) As per the data received from Police Departments of
States/ UTs, total number of road accidents in the State of Tamil Nadu
caused on account of Potholes during the years 2021 to 2024 is given
below :-No. of Road Accidents in Tamil Nadu
Year Road Accidents
2021 459
2022 446
2023 620
2024 360
As per the data, road accidents occur due to multiple causes such as
over-speeding, use of mobile phone while driving, drunken
driving/consumption of alcohol, driving on wrong side/ lane indiscipline,
jumping red light, non-use of safety devices such as helmets and seat
belts, vehicular condition, weather condition, road condition, etc.
(c) As per Section 161 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, compensation is
provided in respect of the death of persons resulting from hit and run
motor accidents. Accordingly, the Compensation to Victims of Hit and
Run Motor Accidents Scheme, 2022 has been notified vide G.S.R. 163(E)
dated the 25th February, 2022. Under this scheme, a fixed sum of
Rupees Two Lakh is provided to legal representatives of the deceased
in case of the death of an accident victim due to hit and run motor
accident. The scheme guidelines also has provisions for providing
compensation of an amount of Rupees Fifty Thousand in case of
grievous injury.
As per section 162 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Government has
notified the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme,
2025 on 5th May, 2025. The detailed guidelines including process flow,
stakeholder-wise standard operating procedures and clearly delineated
roles and responsibilities have also been notified on 4th June,
2025. Under the scheme, road accident victim is entitled for cashless
treatment upto Rs. 1.5 lakh per victim per accident for a maximum
period of 7 days from date of accident.
(d) Potholes are identified during regular inspection of the project
stretches by the field Officers. Besides, potholes are also identified
with the help of drone survey and network survey vehicles. Inputs from
road users, through ‘Rajamargyatra App’ are also considered.
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