Traffic offenders will now receive e­-challan via SMS

MUMBAI: Do not be surprised upon receiving an e-challan via SMS from Mumbai traffic police within minutes of violating a traffic norm.

MUMBAI: Do not be surprised upon receiving an e-challan via SMS from Mumbai traffic police within minutes of violating a traffic norm.

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The traffic police department on Tuesday launched the CCTV challan system, wherein 4,717 cameras will keep a hawk’s eye on the city streets to detect violations and generate e-challans.

The newly launched project added Mumbai to the list of Indian cities already using a CCTV camera system to generate e-challans.

While launching the system at the traffic police headquarters, Worli, Mumbai police commissioner Datta Padsalgikar said, “There is no need for you to look for a traffic constable at a junction before breaking traffic rules. Our cameras will click you in the act.”

The cameras will stream live footage to the traffic police control room, where a team of police personnel will determine the type of violations. The superior cameras will provide a clear footage, allowing the police to zoom in and capture snapshots of the registration number of an offender’s vehicle.

Later, this detail will be used to detect a violator’s cellphone number on which the e-challan will be forwarded via SMS. Also mentioned in the SMS will be a link, clicking on which will direct the motorist to the traffic police website where the fine can be paid using debit and credit cards.

Officials said the system would maintain a record of the vehicles’ numbers and issue notification in case of unpaid fines. Moreover, stringent action will be initiated against repeat offenders.

“If a motorist commits more than four offences, we will request the RTO to suspend the licence. For repeat offenders and those who fail to pay fines, the police personnel will trace and initiate appropriate action against them,” said Milind Bharambe, joint commissioner of police, Traffic.

Besides launching the new CCTV camera system, the traffic police also introduced new towing vans called ‘Ultra-Modern hydraulic TVS’ to its existing fleet.

The new vans are fitted with a GPS system, cameras, and are equipped to tow high-end cars without causing damage.

The vans will record the towing process in real time, details of which will be maintained for future use, said traffic officials. Also, the vans will geo-tag the location of the offence immediately and add a timestamp.

Moreover, the towing van personnel will be accompanied by traffic cops, who will bee equipped with a device to digitally update the details of the towing, including the vehicle’s make, colour and its registration number.