5 crore in 3 months, e-Challan works for cops

“The Chennai Traffic Police registered more than 5.90 lakh traffic violation cases after the new system was introduced on May 10. As much as Rs 5.1 crore has been collected as penalty through cashless e-challan system,” said the officer at an awareness event attended by City Police Commissioner AK Viswanathan among others.

Stating that the cashless e-challan system was a success, Arun said that only two complaints have been received against traffic police personnel in the recent past, including one that was proven to be false. “The erring traffic sub-inspector and a constable were suspended,” he added. The new system has replaced the nearly three-decade-old practice of spot fine, which often paved way for bribery allegations.

Debit and credit cards were preferred by 90 per cent of the violators, while the remaining pay through government e-Seva centres, post offices and courts, Arun said. In contrast, only around 50 per cent motorists used cards in Hyderabad city, which follows a similar e-challan system, he added.

Meanwhile, Viswanathan released an awareness video on road safety and e-challan system featuring India’s first woman motorcycle race champion Alisha Abdullah. In the video, the racer explains the process of paying penalty through cashless mode, besides imploring riders to follow traffic rules for their own safety.