Toll-free number to report accidents on National Highways to be launched by the government

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is soon going to launch a national toll-free number. The number is to help people report accidents on the highways, as well as register complaints regarding the operations and maintenance of the highways. The number – 1033, is to be launched in the first week of February as was reported by a leading media portal. NHAI chairman Deepak Kumar said that the aim of the number is to ensure that timely assistance is given to accident victims on the national highways. "We have completed all the work related to this project. The aim is to provide quick help, rescue any accident victim, and take him/her to the nearest hospital. We are also collaborating with state governments for the deployment of ambulances along highways exclusively for our road users," he said.

He further added that once the toll-number operators received a call about an accident or any other emergency situation, the information would be relayed to the nearest operation centre for action, which could range from dispatching an ambulance or sending a crane to the site for rescue operations. He also said that an awareness drive would be launched to popularise the national-toll free number among road users. An official said, "We have put in place an escalation matrix to deal with unresolved complaints." Well we certainly hope this will aid in helping people. Stay tuned for more updates.