E-challans to become reality this month

In order to reduce malpractices and establishment costs, the Maharashtra Transport department will soon launch an ‘e-challan system’, where traditional methods of paying cash will be shunned and traffic offenders will be asked to swipe their credit or debit cards for the purpose.

According to transport minister Diwakar Raote, the scheme will be launched in Mumbai from this month and will be fully operational in six months. “We have had meetings with police officials and swipe machines are being procured. We will slowly reduce the handling of cash by traffic constables. Generally, it is seen that to avoid paying the full penalty, people pay a lesser amount of cash, do not take vouchers and get away,” said Mr Raote.

“Also, when a traffic violator pays the fine and takes the voucher, handling the money has its own costs.

The money has to be submitted to the cashier, who then has to count it before depositing it in banks. All these operations are lengthy and require money and manpower. With the e-challan system this can be reduced,” he said.

The money saved by the department will be utilised for other development purposes.

According to an official from the transport department, around 1,000 e-challan machines will be handed over to the traffic constables in the first phase of the scheme.