E- Challan: Check Traffic Challan Status and Pay Fines Online

 Traffic Challan

Traffic violations are not only common but often go unchecked in our country due to lack of manpower, resources and adequate technology. However, with the introduction of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act of 2019, the Government of India has focused on the integration of new technology, stricter enforcement and higher penalties to ensure improved road safety.

As part of its initiative to integrate technology for increased road safety and to curtail corruption, the government has also adopted various Intelligence Traffic Management Systems (ITMS) for traffic monitoring, surveillance, enforcement and penalization.

In this section, we will be discussing in detail regarding what online challan is and how to make payments when charged with one.

Online Challan Payment

Some larger cities are currently using high-tech ITMS suites such as those for Red Light Violation Detection (RLVD), speed violation detection, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) and e challan. Currently, several states in India are using traffic e challan for improved tracking, better enforcement and efficient collection of fines.

Some of the states that have implemented an e challan payment system include Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan among others. Also in Uttar Pradesh, traffic violators can check e challan status and make traffic challan enquiry at the E challan UP website.

What is an e challan?

In India when a vehicle owner violates traffic rules, he/she is handed over a ticket called a manual traffic police challan that mentions the violation and the penalty for disobeying traffic rules and regulations. However, issuing physical traffic challans is not only cumbersome but there are high chances that the violator may go scot-free by paying a fraction of the original amount. Also, with a physical traffic challan, the payment process is time-consuming as the vehicle owner has to go to the nearest RTO office to make the e challan payment.

To solve this problem, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) introduced e-challan, which is simply a traffic challan in electronic form. This integrated information technology-based enforcement platform can be used by traffic personnel to issue traffic e challans in real time and levy fines according to the rules set forth by the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act of 2019.

This new technology driven RTO challan system ensures that there is transparency in the way fines are collected from road users. E challans also make sure that the e challan payment is credited directly to the concerned RTO’s account.

How does an e-challan work?

The objective of e-challan is to keep traffic violations in check and curb road menaces such as over-speeding, drunk driving, red light violation, riding without helmet, driving without seat belt, etc.

Electronic traffic police challan or e-challan can be issued or triggered in two ways:

1. When a traffic police pulls a vehicle for violation of traffic rules
2. When over-speeding and red light violation is detected by traffic surveillance cameras or hand-held speed guns and an e-challan is issued in the name of the vehicle owner

While some cities in India have automated systems for issuing e-challans, others are done manually by traffic enforcement personnel through an android-based mobile app and back-end web applications which are connected to the RTO database.

Once an e challan is issued in a vehicle owner’s name, he can go to the designated website of the concerned RTO and check his e challan status. To avoid legal action and stiff penalties, the vehicle owner can make e challan payment without visiting the local RTO office; he can make the payment online using debit cards, credit cards or net banking.

Traffic e challans is not only helping curb safety violations in India but has been instrumental in enhancing the coffers of regional transport offices. In 2019, E challans in UP helped the state government collect Rs. 201.91 crore in fines while Gujarat was second among top five e challan payment collecting states in India with fines worth 101.28 crores.

Source: Timesofindia.com

Steps to make e-challan payment online

If you have jumped the red light, parked your vehicle in an unauthorized place and have crossed maximum speed limits or committed other traffic violations, you will receive an e-challan on your registered mobile phone or residential address. Once you are issued a traffic police challan, you have 60 days to make the e challan payment. It is wise to make the payment as soon as possible as you may forget making the e challan payment on time and face legal action.

Here are the steps for traffic e challan payment online:

1. First, go to https://echallan.parivahan.gov.in/index/accused-challan

2. Enter your challan number, driving licence number or vehicle number on the main page

   

3. After you have entered the challan, DL or vehicle number, click on the ‘Get Detail’ tab.

4. Now, you can see the e challan status under the challan status row. Then, click on ‘Pay Now’ under the Payment column to proceed.

   

5. In the next step, you can select the mode of payment for paying your e challan. You can pay with debit card, credit card or net banking. After the e challan payment transaction is completed, you receive a confirmation message on your registered mobile number along with the transaction ID. Store this information for future reference.

Steps to check e challan status online

If you have accidentally deleted the RTO challan SMS or misplaced the e-challan sent to you, you can still carry out a traffic challan enquiry and check your e challan status online by following a few easy steps.

Here are the steps to check your traffic e challan status online:

1. Go to https://echallan.parivahan.gov.in/

2. Click ‘Check Challan Status’ tab

   

3. Once you click the ‘Check Challan Status’ tab, a new page will open where you can enter your DL or vehicle number to check your traffic challan status online.

   

4. If there are no traffic challans against you, a ‘Challan Not Found’ dialog box will pop up and the row will be blank such as shown below.

   

   

5. If a challan has been issued against you, you will see a row similar to the one shown below where you can make the payment. You can also track and see all the challans against your name in this window.

   

E-challans are an effective, fool-proof and efficient traffic enforcement system to detect, curb and penalise traffic violations. Don’t make the mistake of taking it for granted and be careless in paying the e-challan fines. You cannot escape this law but you can invite stiff fines, cancellation of driving licence or legal action against you.

It’s important to understand that these rules are made so that our roads are safe and convenient to use. Contribute to road safety and nation building by driving safely, maintaining road discipline and etiquette, and following traffic rules and regulations. To understand the importance of abiding by the traffic safety rules, take a quick look at the road accident and death rates in India.

Road Accidents & Deaths [2017-2018]

Indian roads are termed one of the most dangerous in the world and road accidents and deaths have been increasing every year. In 2002, Indian roads witnessed around 75,000 deaths in a year; by 2018, it had doubled to 1.5 lakh per year.

Source: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)

With this data, it is quite clear why following the traffic rules and safety is vital. Failing to do so can not only put yours and people’s lives in danger but can attract hefty penalties and imprisonment (in extreme cases). Let us take a look at traffic safety rules implemented in India.

Traffic Rules and Regulations in India

The following is the list of traffic rules one must follow when driving/riding on Indian roads –

• Make sure that you drive/ride on the left side of the load and let other vehicles overtake from the right.

• Ensure that you stay on your left when making a left turn. The same is applicable when making a right turn.

• Always overtake vehicles from the right.

• Do not increase the speed on your vehicle when another vehicle is overtaking you.

• Be extra cautious on intersections. When passing through them, make sure your vehicle does not cause inconvenience to other drivers on the road.

• Give right of way to vehicles on intersections by allowing them to drive through without stopping in the direction you wish to proceed.

• You are liable to make way for emergency vehicles such as fire engines and ambulances.

• Know that pedestrians have the right of way at zebra crossings.

• U-turns can be taken when there are no warning signs nearby. Make sure that you are giving enough indications to other drivers on the road when making a U-turn.

• Use indicators to let other vehicles know if you plan to change directions. If the indicators are not functioning, use hand signals.

• Do not park your vehicle in a manner that causes hurdles to people.

• The vehicle registration plate should be visible at all times. In case it is damaged, get it replaced as soon as possible to avoid fines.

• Drive in the permissible direction in one-way roads. Also, do not park your vehicle in reverse on one-way treats.

• Make sure that you halt your vehicle before the stop lines. On roads with no stop lines, you should stop your vehicle before the zebra crossing.

• You should not horn unnecessarily or excessively, especially in no-honking zones like hospitals and schools.

• Make sure that you follow the traffic signal and signs at all times. Also, follow the traffic officer’s instructions if the traffic lights are not available.

• Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles on the road, especially when halting.

• When driving on an inclined road, you have the right of way as it may become difficult to regain momentum.

• Make sure you have a clear view of the road ahead when driving the vehicle. The car windshield should not have unnecessary stickers blocking the view.

• It is illegal to carry passengers on tractors or goods carrier vehicles.

• Overloading of vehicles is not only dangerous but also illegal. One must take only a permissible number of passengers or goods that the vehicle is designed to carry.

• You should not carry explosives, inflammable, or harmful substances that can cause fire hazards and be fatal for others on the road.

• Do not cause annoyance to people when driving in reverse.

• Make sure that you have documents such as driving licence, vehicle registration certificate, motor insurance plan, fitness certificate and tourist certificate (for commercial vehicles), PUC, etc.

Traffic Police Challan List

The following is the list of traffic violations and penalties it will attract –

Conclusion

Following and getting yourself acquainted with the rules associated with traffic challan is crucial. While that may be one in a litany of points you have to keep in mind with regard to road safety, the point at the top of your list should be the securing motor insurance.

Having a sound car insurance or bike insurance is mandatory to drive on Indian roads. You can avail of a comprehensive motor insurance policy on Finserv MARKETS and reap in benefits like swift claim settlement processes, network of 4000+ garages in case of cars and 24/7 assistance.

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