Cops to test drive e-challan

The Mumbai traffic police are all set to carry out a pilot project of e-challan system in the city.

The traffic branch will soon be given point of sale (POS) devices which they will use across the city for over a month and submit a feasibility report to the state government.

“The hand-held device will be able to read data of smart cards, credit cards, will keep records of the vehicle registration number, chassis number, licence numbers and so on,” said a traffic police officer, requesting anonymity.

“One can pay any traffic violation through credit cards via this system, which is why it is called the e-challan system,” he said.

He added that a similar system was implemented in Pune on an experimental basis but the police required a printer to print the challan. “This device is much better. It will not require any add-ons. It has an in-built printer,” said the officer.

Joint commissioner of police (traffic) Vivek Phansalkar said they will get the devices soon.

“A month-long test will be done to generate sufficient data with and without the devices.

We will see its usefulness and send a report to the state government,” he said. Another traffic police officer said that e-challan was the first step towards technology.

 “We need to have a synergy between the traffic department and the RTO. We already have stolen vehicles and drunk drivers’ database available with us,” he said. He added that they would make a comprehensive database of all the traffic violations and would connect it to the main server that can be complied with the POS devices.

“We will be able to have all details about the traffic offenders on the POS screen.

Depending on the driver’s past driving offences, we will be able to take action against him/her to term him/her as dangerous and seize the licence,” the police officer said.