Transport department: Pay traffic fine on spot

PATNA: Now, you do not have to carry cash to the Patna district transport office (DTO) for payment of fees while procuring driving licences (DL), registration certificates (RC), heavy vehicle permits and fitness certificates as the state transport department will start debit and credit card facilities from next week.
Even motorists, who break traffic rules, can pay fine using debit or credit cards of any bank. Initially, the department will introduce card payment facility on Hartali Mor and Income Tax roundabout.

According to officials in the district transport office, more than Rs 30 lakh is collected from people applying for DLs, RCs, heavy vehicle permits, fitness certificates and as fine from motorists every day. “Payment and collection of money through debit and credit cards will be easier for everyone,” a Patna DTO official told this newspaper.

Transport secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal claimed there was hardly any government office in the state where the facility of payment through debit or credit cards was available. “We are likely to start the facility from February 25,” Agarwal said.

Initially, the transport department will start the new payment facility only at the Patna DTO. Later, it will be introduced in other districts as well.

Agarwal said, “Traffic violators often make excuses, saying they do not have cash to pay fine. Now, they will not be able to do so.”

The transport department will soon get at least 200 point of sale machines and give them to traffic cops for use on 16 major roads in the city.

Bailey Road resident Abhishek Anand, who works in a private pharmaceutical company, welcomed the initiative of the transport department.

“Once I was caught for riding my bike without a helmet. However, I was not carrying cash. The traffic cop seized my bike and released it only when I paid him fine after withdrawing money from a nearby ATM kiosk,” Abhishek said.