In the digital era, traffic management has become smarter and more efficient. The introduction of the e-Challan system has made it easier for vehicle owners to check, track, and clear fines online anywhere, anytime.
Traffic rules are enforced more smartly these days. Instead of a paper ticket, the traffic violators are issued an electronic traffic notice, often called an e-Challan. Implemented across the nation, there is a lot that citizens should be aware of about this modern approach.
What is an e-Challan?
An e-Challan is a digital traffic fine issued by the traffic police for violating road rules such as overspeeding, signal jumping, not wearing a seat belt, etc. The system automatically captures the violation through cameras or manual entry and records it under your vehicle registration number.
The e-Challan is an effective strategy introduced by the authorities to lower the rapidly increasing number of traffic offences across the nation and to create awareness among the citizens. To monitor the actions of the drivers, CCTV cameras are installed at different locations.
How does e-Challan work in India?
When someone breaks a traffic rule in India, such as not adhering to the prescribed speed limit, jumping a red light, or parking in a no-parking zone, the violation is captured by traffic surveillance cameras or recorded manually by an officer.
Earlier, the road violations were manually recorded by the traffic police officer, but with the advancement of technology and the improvements made in the system, the violation tickets are now issued digitally, saving time and effort.
To better monitor, detect the traffic violations and streamline the complete system, making it more transparent, CCTVs, speed guns and other advanced devices have been installed.
The flow of the e-Challan system in India
To understand the working of the traffic e-Challan system in India, one should first understand the complete flow involved in it. To control the rising traffic infractions, the challan system works in the following flow:
1. Identification of Traffic Violations: The road violations/offences are detected either manually by the traffic personnel or through advanced devices, such as speed guns, CCTVs, etc.
2. Recording the Violation: If found guilty, the offence gets recorded in the vehicle owner’s logs automatically. The entry clearly mentions the date, time, type of location, and other aspects associated with the offence.
3. Issuance of e-Challan: An e-Challan is then issued automatically to the violator. It carries a unique number - the challan number to help people check and pay challan easily.
4. Notification: The vehicle owner or the violator is then notified about the e-Challan through SMS, e-mail or any other way.
5. Challan Check and Payment: The person (violator) can then check the status of the challan and make the payment either online or offline.
6. Challan Case Closed: Upon making the payment, the challan gets settled and the case gets closed. The same gets updated in the central databases.
Pro Tip: To avoid paying additional penalties, settle the e-Challan within 60 days from the date of its issuance.
The smart technologies powering the e-Challan system
The ITMS e-Challan incorporates a suite of advanced technologies, making the complete mechanism simpler and convenient. A few of the smart technologies include:
- ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras
- AI-based speed detection
- Integrated Traffic Management Systems (ITMS)
- Digital payment gateways
- VAHAN & SARATHI integration
Benefits of the e-Challan System
Introduced in 2016, the e-Challan system has contributed to improving the transparency and enforcement of the traffic laws as well. The implementation of this system has been beneficial for both government authorities and citizens alike.
For Authorities/Government
- Better transparency and record-keeping.
- Reduced manual bottlenecks and faster settlement.
- Reduced corruption and misuse.
- Cutting down the revenue loss.
- Helps in central monitoring and implementation of road safety measures.
For Citizens
- Quick and easy e-Challan check and settlement.
- Secure digital payments, saving time and effort.
- Check and pay the challan from anywhere and anytime.
- No fraudulent or duplicate e-Challans.
What are the latest initiatives taken by the Government for e-Challan management?
To better manage and create awareness about the e-Challan system across the nation, the authorities have been continuously coming up with some initiatives since its first implementation in the country with pilot phases.
Recently, the government has been focusing on the following measures:
One Nation, One Challan (ONOC): Flashing among the hot topics nowadays, ONOC is not a new initiative. ONOC, a flagship project of the MoRTH, was officially launched in 2016. This nationwide initiative gears up again this year with the motive to bridge the gap between the enforcement agencies and citizens by establishing a unified platform by integrating VAHAN & SARATHI.
ITMS e-Challan: ITMS challan is an advanced approach adopted by the concerned authorities for better enforcement of traffic laws and regulations across the country, easy traceability of violation tickets and overall traffic management.
Comparison: Traditional challan Vs. e-Challan
The traditional way of issuing challans has been replaced with the e-Challan. Let’s take a minute to understand how traditional challan was different from e-Challan and which among these two is better.
| Grounds of Comparison | Traditional Challan | e-Challan |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | Traffic personnel | CCTVs. speed guns, automated systems, and traffic officers |
| Payment | Usually offline | Majorly online |
| Transparency | Low | High |
| Possibility of errors | High | Low |
| Chances of Bribery | High | Low |
| Process | Long | Precise |
| Human Intervention | More | Minimal |
Valuable sources you should know
Being a responsible citizen and to avoid hassles involved in checking and paying e-Challan in India, you should be aware of some of the valuable resources that will surely help you out.
Some of the must-know portals/platforms include:
- MoRTH: To get the updates about road safety, acts, notifications and more.
- Parivahan: A unified platform for challan check, settlement and raising a complaint.
- Park+: An online platform for all vehicle-related services, including challan check and payment.
Conclusion
With e-challans, managing traffic violations has become simpler than ever. This modern and smart approach aims at punishing traffic offenders and ensuring proper enforcement of the MVA, 1988 (and amendments made to it). Stay updated about the traffic violations and penalties to avoid getting punished.