Traffic Fine Backlog Draws Motorist Concern

City motorists were surprised during routine traffic checks when officers asked them to pay digital fines from several years ago. Many said these e-challans had disappeared from public websites and were now visible only on police mobile devices.

Drivers said they had no way to confirm the dues online. Some also reported that their vehicles were released only after they paid the full amount on the spot.

Traffic officials explained that the fines were issued through CCTV cameras and a mobile app used by field staff. Each violation is uploaded, reviewed by an external agency, and matched with Transport Department records. Drivers usually get an SMS when a challan is created.

In 16 months, the department issued nearly nine lakh e-challans worth about Rs 50 crore. That entire batch later went missing from public portals after corruption allegations against the agency running the system. The timing matched the change in government, leading many motorists to believe their dues had been cleared.

The missing data is still not available online, but challans issued two to three years ago have started appearing again during inspections. Police have warned that vehicles may be seized if old fines remain unpaid.

Many motorists are now asking why the fines cannot be viewed online and why enforcement has resumed without any explanation of the missing records.

Officials said the deleted data is being restored in stages and urged drivers to check the Traffic Parivahan app for pending dues. Enforcement has increased to clear the backlog, though the lack of transparency continues to trouble road users.