24 August,2017 01:10 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The Mumbai Traffic Police has started a collection drive of sorts to recover fines worth Rs 25 crore issued via e-challans to traffic offenders starting August 16
Representational picture
The Mumbai Traffic Police has started a "collection drive" of sorts to recover fines worth Rs 25 crore issued via e-challans to traffic offenders starting August 16. Officials were deployed at Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL) toll plaza for this purpose by the Joint Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar.
Every passing vehicle was being checked by traffic officials for pending e-challans with the aid of the MTP mobile apps, so that unpaid fines can be collected using digital modes of payment.
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According to Mumbai Mirror, Rs 11 lakh fine was collected on the first day, August 16, Rs 19 lakh on August 17 and Rs 21 lakh on August 18.
In order to avoid causing traffic issues, cops checked north-bound vehicles during morning peak hours, while south-bound vehicles were checked in the evening. Traffic violators will be able to pay fines via debit/credit cards and digital payment modes like Paytm.
Also read: Now traffic police will click pictures of number plates of errant motorists
14 lakh e-challans were issued between November 2016 and July 2017 by the Mumbai Traffic Police. But, only half the fines were collected, which prompted the traffic department to send officials to the homes of violators, who had more than 5 e-challans issued in their names.
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Traffic police sources are also planning to put naka bandis across Mumbai to check pending e-challans. They have instructed all 36 police stations to pick a major road for this purpose.
Also read: Traffic cops go cashless, will issue e-challans to offenders from January 9
Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Amitesh Kumar has stated that the toll plaza collection drive is an effort by the traffic police to collect pending fines issued through e-challans. He feels that an e-challan is an efficient way to maintain traffic discipline.
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