Mumbai: Unpaid fines for traffic violations across the state have climbed to Rs 4,637 crore in six years since the launch of the ‘one state, one e-challan system’. According to state traffic police data, 11.4 crore e-challans with fines totalling to Rs 7,272.4 crore were issued between Jan 2019 and Nov 2025. Of these, more than 5.02 crore challans with fines up to Rs 2,635.4 crore have been paid by errant motorists. The recovery rate of fines is 36%.Typically, the state traffic department attempts to resolve pending e-challan cases through the Lok Adalat. Notices are sent to motorists who haven’t paid the fine, asking them to clear their dues or else appear before the Lok Adalat. But in a blow for the department’s efforts for recovery, the upcoming Lok Adalat on Dec 13 is not going to be taking up matters related to settlement of traffic e-challans. The only other mechanism used by the traffic department is to check a motorist’s challan payment history whenever he is intercepted on the road for a violation and request him to clear all dues on the spot.The state traffic department had made a proposal to the home department offering solutions to aid recovery such as deduction of fines through FASTag accounts of motorists or linking vehicle insurance policies to the e-challan system which would provide for higher premiums for motorists with pending challans. The proposal is yet to be approved.While these proposed solutions will require amendments in existing laws, there are also some challenges. Ranjit Gadgil, programme director of non-profit Parisar who specialises in transportation policies, pointed out that deduction of fines from FASTag accounts will only work for cars, and not two-wheelers. “But any step taken to recover pending fines is a step in the right direction,” Gadgil added.Another activist noted: “What would happen in instances where a challan is issued incorrectly to a vehicle having a different make or registration number and the fine is deducted from Fastag? Will a refund be issued and how long would the process take?”Earlier this year, transporters and tourist bus operators had declared an indefinite strike citing e-challan implementation as one of their concerns. Their demands included an Artificial Intelligence-based digital audit of previously issued challans, enforcement exclusively through surveillance cameras or sensors, creation of an independent system for resolution of e-challan-related disputes. State transport minister Pratap Sarnaik set up a committee to examine the issue and come up with findings. The report will be submitted shortly.
