Why Mumbai Police have still not started collecting fines via digital means

Even the Mumbai traffic police are heavily involved in giving out e-challans, to ensure fines are collected digitally. Representational picture

While the entire country tries to go digital with every transaction, the Mumbai Police is yet to swipe into the trend. While cops continue to collect fines from citizens riding without helmets, causing nuisance or smoking in public places, the penalties collected are only in the form of cash.

Last year, the state government decided to go completely cashless, especially for paying taxes, fines and bills. Even the Mumbai traffic police are heavily involved in giving out e-challans, to ensure fines are collected digitally. However, if the Mumbai Police catches you breaking the law, you will end up paying in cash, since they have no equipment available to collect cash digitally.

Also read - Mumbai traffic police's latest target: Collect Rs 25 crore e-challan fines

In one such example, two citizens told mid-day they were fined by Kherwadi police station's officials for smoking in a public place. When they informed the cops they would pay the fine through a debit card, the officials told them there is no machine available with their station and thus they would have to either pay in cash or take the notice and go to the court and pay the fine.

Deepak Deoraj, Mumbai police spokesperson, said, "We have not felt the need for it [equipment for collecting fines digitally] so far, as the amount collected by us in the form of fines is maximum R1,000 to R1,200. But we will definitely think about this in future."

Rs 1.2k
Maximum fine amount collected by Mumbai police

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