With an outstanding e-challan amount of ₹2,429 crore from 42.89 million traffic violators, the state government has approached the central government for permission to link these unpaid fines to the bank accounts of motorists. Since the introduction of e-challans in January 2019, the state has recovered only 35% of the penalties, amounting to ₹1,339 crore out of ₹3,768 crore levied.
The E-Challan System
Since its inception in January 2019, the e-challan system has issued fines to over 7.5 crore motorists using handheld devices and CCTV networks. These fines are for various traffic violations such as over-speeding, lane-cutting, and jumping signals. Despite various efforts, the state government has struggled to recover the full amount of these fines.
Linking Bank Accounts to E-Challans
To address this issue, the state transport department has requested permission from the central government to link the e-challans to the bank accounts associated with motorists’ Fastag and annual motor insurance payments. An official from the transport department explained that this would enable the recovery of outstanding fines whenever motorists attempt to top-up their Fastag or pay their vehicle insurance.
Central Government Approval Required
Since the Banking Act falls under central jurisdiction, the state government needs approval to link bank accounts with e-challans. The proposal has been sent, and a positive response is anticipated. An officer from the transport department highlighted that most of the unpaid fines are from private car owners, while public transport vehicles are easier to manage during their annual permit renewals.
Challenges in Recovery Efforts
Despite regular drives by the traffic police, the recovery of outstanding amounts has not met expectations. Police at toll plazas often recover fines by coordinating between plazas once an outstanding amount is detected. Additionally, insurance companies have been instructed not to renew policies until outstanding penalties are paid. The transport department believes that linking bank accounts will facilitate full recovery of the fines.
Suspension of E-Challans on Expressway Until State Polls
The issuance of 4 lakh e-challans, with an estimated collective penalty of ₹40 crore on the Mumbai-Pune expressway, has been halted due to recent Lok Sabha elections and upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections. This suspension is in response to political leadership’s instructions to avoid unrest among citizens. The surveillance camera-linked drive, launched to reduce accidents due to overspeeding and lane-cutting, will resume after the assembly polls in October.
