Chembur resident gets state’s first e-challan





A Chembur resident has become the first person in the state to be issued an e-challan. He was sent the challan for a traffic violation committed in Navi Mumbai, as his vehicle had stepped on the zebra crossing at the NRI Junction, Palm Beach Road. The offence was recorded on a CCTV at the crossing.

Traffic police surprised motorists with a quiet launch of the CCTV-based e-challan system in Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation's jurisdiction last month. The drive began with Palm Beach Road, where 24 cameras have been installed at nine locations. "We sent 15 e-challans through registered post. CCTV footage is

used to identify the car number and owner using data updated by the transport department,'' said DCP (traffic), Vijay Patil.

"E-challan will improve discipline among drivers," said K L Prasad, police commissioner,

Navi Mumbai. The city has 262 CCTVs and the police commissioner's office has asked the civic body to install another 400.

While the CCTVs capture traffic images in which the vehicle number is identified, the

command centre at the police commissioner's office takes a screenshot and also keeps the video clipping as evidence. An e-challan is prepared and posted with a covering letter from the traffic inspector. While the e-challan includes an image of the vehicle committing the violation, the covering letter provides details of the offence, the location and the option to pay a compounded fine or approach the court. At present, the fine can be paid at the CBD traffic chowky on the Sion-Panvel highway. It has to be paid within seven days from the receipt of the letter or the department forwards the case to the jurisdictional court at CBD Belapur.

"An online payment gateway will be soon be operational. The defaulter can then pay the fine online," added Patil.

"Delhi too has an evidencebased challan. I am sure it will enable greater compliance," said Rajesh Agarwal, the state government's principal secretary (IT), who chaired the CCTV committee.