Wrong e-challans sent to 4,000 citizens in 6 months

Traffic cops issue e-challan to about 8,000-10,000 vehicles daily

In the first six months of this year, citizens raised about 40,000 disputes over traffic e-challans of which nearly 10 per cent were found to be genuine. The scrutiny of the claims also led to the discovery of more than 200 vehicles that are using fake number plates. So far, the department has registered cases against 17 people over bogus registration numbers.

Motorists are sent e-challans for flouting traffic rules, though the automated process has some margin of error, admit officials. Until June 30 of this month, officials received 39,950 applications claiming that wrong e-challans had been sent.

Officials said the department cancelled 4,105 e-challans after verifying the applications. While it has come across 241 vehicles with fake number plates, they said the data has been fed to their system. "Whenever these vehicles [with fake numbers] come in contact with our machines generating e-challans, they will be caught," said an official.

Of the 17 such cases identified so far, there were 3 stolen vehicles, 2 non-registered vehicles and 12 vehicles that had a bogus number despite being registered.

"There were mainly two types of people using fake number plates - on stolen vehicles to commit a crime and to avoid e-challan by traffic. Also, some people use fancy number plates due to which wrong e-challans are sent." The official added, "We have to keep an eye on those who break rules. An average 8,000-10,000 vehicles are e-challaned every day."

Praveen Padwal, additional commissioner of traffic police, told mid-day, "Those who break traffic rules are fined through e-challans. At times, some people claim that they have been sent the wrong e-challans. Then, such applications are checked."