2,483 traffic violators face over 50 unpaid challans in Chandigarh
The number of unpaid challans in the city has soared to a staggering 19.5 lakh with 2,483 vehicles having more than 50 challans each. As the backlog grows, so does the challenge of enforcing the traffic rules on the city roads.
Among the 2,483 vehicles that face more than 50 unpaid challans each, 1,900 have between 50 and 99 challans. As many as 389 have been booked for 100-149 offences and 141 for 150-199 violations. Fiftythree vehicles have over 200 unpaid challans each.
To address this growing issue, the UT Administration had earlier decided to issue notices to vehicle owners with five or more unpaid challans, instructing them to clear their dues within 15 days.
Despite repeated notices and warnings, many vehicle owners continue to ignore their challans for offences such as speeding, reckless driving and traffic signal violations.
Social activist RK Garg stressed the urgent need for a concrete strategy to ensure that offenders clear their pending challans on time. He pointed out that while the backlog of unpaid challans had been increasing, many violators continued to defy traffic norms.
“There is a need for the UT Administration and the police to implement technology-based solutions to address the backlog efficiently,” he added.
Traffic violations are monitored through the Sector 17-based Integrated Traffic Management System, which is connected to around 2,000 CCTV cameras installed at various junctions in the city.
In a recent case, a habitual traffic offender was found guilty of committing 269 traffic offences, including dangerous driving, red light violation, stepping on road markings and riding two-wheeler without helmet. A local court told the offender to do community service for 15 days and pay a fine of Rs 53,800. Another habitual offender with 222 challans was fined Rs 43,400 and ordered to perform two-hour community service at traffic signals for 15 days. He was booked for violations such as red-light jumping (44), speeding (168), stepping on road markings (eight) and others.
