Mumbai: The state government is making efforts to recover an outstanding e-challan amount of ₹2,429 crore from 42.89 million traffic violators. Despite issuing e-challans since January 2019, only 35% of the penalties have been recovered over the last five years.
Proposal to Link Outstanding Challans with Bank Accounts
The state government has requested permission from the central government to link outstanding e-challans with the bank accounts of motorists. This proposal aims to improve the recovery of outstanding amounts by enabling the state to recover fines whenever motorists attempt to top-up their Fastag or pay their vehicle insurance.
Challenges in Recovering Outstanding Amounts
- Private car owners constitute a significant portion of the outstanding amount, making recovery challenging.
- Recovery from public transport vehicles is comparatively easier and is done during the annual renewal of their permits.
Coordination Efforts and Future Expectations
Efforts to recover outstanding amounts include coordinating with toll plazas and instructing insurance companies not to renew policies until outstanding penalties are paid. Additionally, the state government anticipates a positive response from the central government for the proposed linking of bank accounts.
Halting of Challan Issuance and Future Plans
The issuance of approximately 4 lakh challans, with an estimated collective penalty amount of ₹40 crore, has been halted on a specific stretch of the Mumbai-Pune expressway due to the recent Lok Sabha elections and the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha elections. This decision was made to avoid unrest among citizens, and the issuance of challans is expected to resume after the assembly polls in October.
Conclusion
The state government’s efforts to recover outstanding e-challan amounts reflect its commitment to enforcing traffic regulations and ensuring road safety. The proposed measures, if implemented, are expected to improve the recovery of outstanding fines and contribute to better compliance with traffic laws.