10 lakh in Maharashtra owe highway police Rs 1,100-crore

Notices for unpaid e-challans were sent to a total of 89,411 people in Mumbai from September 13 to September 22

The Maharashtra State Highway police have sent notices to more than 10 lakh people for non-payment of e-challans worth about Rs 1,100 crore from September 13. The violators have been called to the Lok Adalat, but about 1 lakh of these people have paid the money, which amounts to Rs 4.37 crore.

On September 25, the Lok Adalat will be held in every district and city across the state. Traffic rules violators are fined through e-challans but most don't pay, so the matters have to be settled through Lok Adalat. E-challan payments of about Rs 1,100 crore are yet to be paid in Maharashtra. Of the total 44,507,788 e-challans issued across the state, 29,400,629 e-challans are pending.

Notices for unpaid e-challans were sent to a total of 89,411 people - only top offenders - in Mumbai from September 13 to September 22, out of which 82,409 people have paid the money, which amounts to about Rs 3.16 crore (Rs 3,16,79,750). The amount due from 7,002 offenders is over Rs 42,61,000. The notices were sent through SMS on the vehicle owner's registered mobile number through a link. The outstanding amount of e-challans in Mumbai from 2018 is more than R400 crore.

In Navi Mumbai, notices have been sent to 14,677 people who have not paid the outstanding e-challan amounts of Rs 1.1-crore. Of these, 6,726 people have paid Rs 54,23,000. In Thane city, notices were sent to 9,138 people to pay e-challan dues worth Rs 46,73,500, out of which 5,502 people have paid Rs 32,60,550.

Official speak

An official from the state highway police told mid-day, "The department was concerned about the huge unpaid amount of challans which was increasing day-by-day. Hence, the ADG office (Traffic) approached the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority and the Bombay High Court to present these unpaid challan cases before the Lok Adalat."

"The court's pre-litigation notices have been issued to over 10 lakh vehicle owners across Maharashtra for payment of unpaid challans for traffic violations. But after issuing the notices, 99,468 people have paid the amount," the official added.

Bhushan Upadhyay, ADG State Highway Police told mid-day that they will approach the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority and the Bombay High Court to take these cases to Lok Adalat. Upadhyay said, "If the vehicle owner does not pay the e-challan money after getting the notice and does not come for hearing in the Lok Adalat, then a case will be filed against him in a court."