Hyderabad & Rachakonda Traffic cops offer 'one-time-discount' on pending challans, full list inside

Hyderabad and Rachakonda Traffic police have announced a 'one time discount' for violators to clear their pending challans piled up over the years. The backlog of unpaid challans has touched Rs 600 crore since 2014, for Hyderabad alone; while it is unknown for Rachakonda and Cyberabad.

This move has been taken keeping in mind the serious economic hardships caused following Covid pandemic. The scheme will only be operational between 1 March- 31 March 2022 and the payment should be done online.

Discount as per the category of vehicle:

-2 wheelers and autos: If 25% is paid, the remaining 75% pending Challans would be waived.

-Pushcarts and petty vendors (39b cases): if 20% is paid, the balance 80% will be waived off.

-LMVs, Cars, Jeeps / Heavy Vehicles : if 50% is paid, the balance 50% will be waived

-RTC drivers if paid 30% balance, 70% pending challan amount will be waived off.

The above discounts have been confirmed by Hyderabad and Rachakonda traffic police, However Cyberabad traffic police has not. "For clearance of the pending Challans, a link will be provided on the Telangana E challan Website from 1 March. This facility is given only to the vehicles which have Challans pending in Hyderabad and Rachakonda Traffic commissionerates.

Hyderabad Traffic police have raised 80 lakh challans for the year ending December 2021. Of which 60 lakh violations were related to not wearing helmets and breaking speed limits. Only 40 % of violators have paid their challans. The 60 % pending fines have added to ever-increasing defaulters which have now increased to 1.75 crore. The unpaid fines have touched Rs 600 crore.

"Since 2014, the number of unpaid challans has piled up to 1.75 crore. The backlog of unpaid fines has reached Rs 600 crore. A lot of fines are compoundable (a case where the enforcement agency and the violator can reach a compromise). The department is studying legal aspects on how to reduce the backlog by getting violators to pay. One of the many strategies is to hold a Lok Adalat in order to facilitate payment. The team is working on 'modifying' enforcement strategies," officials told NewsMeter.

Earlier, Hyderabad Traffic Chief told Newsmeter that, the department was working on providing some respite to people who have not paid challans so far. "The pandemic has pushed a lot of people into an economic crisis. As a humanitarian gesture and in an attempt to ease people's burdens, the Hyderabad Traffic police will provide some respite by reducing the pending challan amount by a certain percentage," the officer said.

The department is also studying the accident data in the last 4-5 years. Depending on the study, Hyderabad Traffic Police will modify its working in an attempt to reduce accidents, over-speeding and drunken driving.