PATNA: Altogether 232 e-challans and postal
challans have been issued to traffic rule violators since the system’s launch in the city on June 5. Those violating the rules were caught on the CCTV cameras functioning at 38 different locations across
Patna.
“E-challans are being issued for four different offences — jumping red lights,
zebra crossings, driving two-wheelers without helmets and driving cars without wearing seat belts,” transport department secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal told this newspaper on Saturday.
Patna additional district transport officer (ADTO) Niranjan Kumar Burnwal said apart from issuing e-challans for these four offences, manual challans were also being issued by traffic police on a regular basis. “Currently, CCTV cameras are functional at only 38 locations and our target is to monitor 55 busy locations in Patna. The maximum number of violations were reported from Dak Bungalow crossing, Hartali Mor, Punaichak crossing, Exhibition Road, Walmi Mor and Saguna Mor,” he said.
Agarwal said a team of three traffic constables monitors the real-time situation of different locations and capture three pictures of the offenders from 6am to 6pm. “For generating an e-challan, minimum three pictures, including that of vehicle registration number, are required. Followed by this, an inspection team of four traffic department officials verifies the captured pictures and obtains further details from the portal ‘echallanweb.gov.in’ to avoid any confusion. At last, the cashier generates e-challan against the registered owner of the vehicle. Besides, four engineers provide technical support in the control room,” Agarwal said.
Dinky Kumari, who is deployed at the traffic control room near Gandhi Maidan, said, “After receiving proper training from the programmers, I have been working here for the past four days and have issued more than 80 challans for various traffic offences.”
Agarwal said, “The challans are being forwarded to the defaulters through SMSs. In case no mobile number is registered, a printed receipt of the challan is sent to the registered address via speed post. At present, there is no online payment method available. So, the defaulters will have to deposit money at the office of Patna SP (traffic) near Gandhi Maidan. Challan is valid for 14 days from the date of issuing. If the defaulter fails to deposit the fined amount within the prescribed period, legal action will be taken under the provisions of Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) 1988.”
He added, “If any person commits traffic offence more than thrice, the SP traffic is competent authority to suspend his or her driving licence.”
Representative image