Maharashtra Challan Update: State Govt Plans To Link Traffic Violators' Bank Accounts To E-Challans

The Maharashtra government is seeking the central government's approval to link traffic violators' bank accounts with their e-challans in an effort to recover Rs 2,429 crore in outstanding penalties, as per the report shared by a news agency Hindustan Times. Over the past five years, 42.89 million motorists have received e-challans for traffic violations, but only 35 per cent of the levied penalties have been collected.

Since January 2019, over 7,530 crore motorists have been fined through e-challans, amounting to Rs 3,768 crore in penalties. However, only Rs 1,339 crore has been paid by March 2024. E-challans are issued for offences such as over-speeding, lane-cutting, and jumping signals.

Linking Bank Accounts To Facilitate Recovery

The state transport department has requested the central government's approval to link e-challans with violators' bank accounts. A transport department official explained that the bank account linked to the Fastag and annual motor insurance payment would be connected with outstanding e-challans. This measure aims to facilitate dues recovery whenever a motorist tops up their Fastag or pays their vehicle insurance.

Central government approval is necessary due to the involvement of the Banking Act. "We have sent the proposal recently and expect a positive response from the centre," said the official.

Private car owners account for most of the outstanding amount, as recovery from public transport vehicles is easier during annual permit renewal. "Regular drives by the traffic police have not yielded the desired results. However, once bank accounts are linked, we expect to recover the fines fully," stated an officer from the state transport department.

E-Challan Issuance On Mumbai Expressways

The issuance of four lakh e-challans on the Mumbai-Pune expressway's 25-km ghat section has been temporarily halted due to recent Lok Sabha elections and upcoming Legislative Assembly elections. The e-challans were initiated on March 12 to address accidents caused by overspeeding and lane-cutting on this stretch. A senior traffic police officer mentioned that challan issuance was paused due to "instructions from the political leadership" to prevent unrest among citizens and would resume after October's assembly polls.