The e-challan system was introduced in the city in January 2017 to crack down on corruption by making the entire penalising system cashless.
Information procured under the Right To Information (RTI) Act shows that Mumbai citizens owe the traffic department a whopping Rs 27.22 crore in traffic fines for 2017. The RTI was filed by Shakeel Ahmed Shaikh of Adhikar Foundation and the response shows that the Mumbai traffic police issued a total 19.52 lakh e-challans to traffic violators between January 1 and December 20, 2017, amounting to a total of Rs 51.20 crore in fines. However, only Rs 23.89 crore was collected.
"This is a huge amount and will certainly lead to losses for the state," said Shaikh. "The bigger worry is that it will also give motorists the assurance that they can get away with not paying fines, proving that the e-challan system is failing due to poor planning and implementation."
Of the offenders, the largest number live in the Western suburbs – 7.29 lakh e-challans were issued in the region, and Rs 9.84 crore is pending in unpaid fines. In the Eastern suburb, a total of 6.47 lakh e-challans were issued and Rs 9.20 crores of fine collection is pending. The island city seems to be the most honest traffic violator – 5.75 lakh e-challans were issues and Rs 8.17 crore is pending.
The e-challan system was introduced in the city in January 2017 to crack down on corruption by making the entire penalising system cashless. Under it, the traffic violator would get an e-challan on their mobile phone from the traffic police, and payment could be done online or at the chowky.
However, in May 2017 DNA had reported how the traffic police had begun seizing licences of violators and penalising them by cutting receipts in response to a dip in fine collection.
Traffic officers say that while the system is being ironed out – they are mulling sending the e-challan through post – they also expect Mumbaikars to be honest. "They can check on the MTP app whether a fine is pending, and simply pay it or be ready to face action," said a senior traffic officer. "We are certainly concerned over the rise in pending fines. To ensure such violators are caught, we are regularly holding drives and checks, and collecting fines on the spot."
A fine list
- Offenders from the Western suburbs owe Rs 9.84 crore in unpaid fines. In the Eastern suburb, a total of Rs 9.20 crore is pending. The island city owes Rs 8.17 crore in traffic violations.
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