Thane: In a first for the district, the Mini Lok Adalat dedicated to motor accident compensation claims settled 149 cases, facilitating the disbursal of more than Rs 17.8 crore in compensation to accident victims and their families, officials said on Monday.The highest compensation of Rs 1.8 crore was awarded to the family of a 36-year-old employee of the Nursing Department at the Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai, who died in a road accident in 2024. The victim was riding his motorcycle on the Mumbai-Goa Highway when a speeding trailer allegedly rammed into him from behind near Ambevadi Naka in Raigad district, resulting in his death.“The claim was settled before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal in the court of Member Judge R. V. Mohite, with the proceedings facilitated under the guidance of District Judge D B Mane. The compensation cheque was handed over to the legal heirs by Principal District and Sessions Judge R D Sawant,” said a statement issued by the district administration.“This Mini Lok Adalat for settling motor accident claims is the first of its kind in Thane. It was organised to ensure faster disbursal of compensation to claimants instead of waiting for the next National Lok Adalat scheduled in September. We obtained the necessary approvals from the National Legal Services Authority and the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority for conducting the special drive,” said Ravindra Pajankar, Secretary of the Thane District Legal Services Authority.Officials said the aim was to reduce delays in compensation payouts and provide timely financial relief to victims and bereaved families and also help reduce pendency of cases before the tribunal.