NEW DELHI: The number of e-challans issued for traffic rule violations in Delhi has surprisingly reduced by almost 50% during the last two years compared to 2020 when there were stricter restrictions on vehicle movement for months due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to government data.
In a written response to a question on the violation of traffic rules by the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari submitted to the Rajya Sabha that the number of e-challans for traffic violations issued in Delhi increased to a maximum of 1.2 crore in 2020, but since then the numbers have reduced drastically. During 2022, only 59 lakh such challans were issued. The reply also mentions that in the past two-and-half months, around 10 lakh challans have been issued in the national capital.
The ITMS across 100 cities is being implemented under the government’s flagship Smart City Mission.
The government data also show that the revenue collected from e-challan in Delhi was also the maximum in 2020 at Rs 111.7 crore and since then the fine collected has fallen drastically. In 2022, the fines collected against e-challans was Rs 22 crore.
A section of the government officials maintain that the quantum jump in the revenue on account of traffic rule violations in 2020 was due to steep increase in fines for such offences under the amended Central Motor Vehicle Act, which came into force from September 2019. However, what has stumped many is the drastic fall in number of challans issued during 2021 and 2022 considering that the CCTV coverage for recording traffic rule violations have increased in the national capital and flouting of the norms is rampant across the city.
However, sources said the enforcement agencies have taken corrective steps in the past two years after thousands of vehicle owners and drivers challenged the high number of e-challans slapped on them in the courts.