Delhi’s state government is in a bad position with ₹2,429 crore of unpaid traffic penalties and 42.89 million violators. Even though the phases have attempted to employ penalties for offenses like over-speeding and running a red light, only ₹1,339 crore out of the total fines of ₹3,768 crore have been recovered by March 2024.
Proposed Solution: Direct connection to bank accounts
To enhance the process of fine collection, the transport department has recommended a revolutionary plan for those e-challans that are unpaid: connect them to the bank accounts of the violators. The true goal of this prospect is to build upon the linkages with Fastag accounts and payment for motor insurance.
These systems are expected to be intertwined such that once a motorist refuels or recharges their Fastag or renews their vehicle insurance, the authorities’ system will also deduct any unpaid fines.
Regulatory Barriers and Central Clearance
However, the actualization of this plan requires approval from the central government since the Banking Act is under their administration. The Delhi Transport Department has forwarded a proposal to this effect and is hopeful of getting clearance.
This is a tactic that clearly aims at increasing the effectiveness of fine collection, a perennial problem that hampers both the transport sector’s infrastructure within the state and road safety measures.
Issues of Fine Recovery from Private Car Owners
One of the issues identified in the process is the collection of fines from private vehicle owners, of whom there are many on the list of offenders. Unlike the fines imposed on a bus or a taxi, which are accumulated before the annual permit renewal, private vehicle fines are not easy to collect. This is why there is a need for a more effective mechanism of enforcing the law, like through the method of direct bank deductions.
Transitional Suspension Caused by Electoral Procedures
Recent electoral exercising, such as the Lok Sabha and consequently the Vidhan Sabha, has almost put a stop for the past month to the issuance of approximately 4 lakh challans worth an estimate of ₹40 crore on the Mumbai-Pune expressway.
This is to ensure that there are no interferences with public feelings during the electoral period, which is expected to commence again once the assembly polls end in October.
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