The Greater Chennai Traffic Police will operate 15 special help centres from September 21 to 30 to help motorists check and clear pending e-challans, as authorities seek to address confusion over camera-detected violations and concerns about fraudulent payment links.
The centres will function daily from 9am to 7pm. Police personnel will inform vehicle owners about outstanding challans and the amounts due, while assisting motorists who make enquiries in person or over the phone. The police will also send bulk SMS alerts to vehicle owners with unpaid fines and contact some motorists directly.
According to the traffic police, several e-challans are generated through automatic number plate recognition cameras, traffic regulation observation zones and other enforcement systems. Some vehicle owners may not be aware that a challan has been issued against them. Others avoid opening links sent in the name of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways because they suspect the messages could be fraudulent.
The 15 centres are located at the ICF annexure police booth in Ayanavaram, Music Academy police booth in Royapettah, Greenways junction police booth in Abiramapuram, Tower Clock junction police booth on Anna Salai, Anna Nagar Roundana, Anna Arch traffic police booth, Maduravoyal traffic police station, Madhavaram Roundana, Elephant Gate police station, New Washermenpet police station, Sembium police station, Mambalam police station, Adyar police station, the Traffic Mount subdivision campus beneath Kathipara flyover and the Intelligent Traffic Management System headquarters at the police commissioner’s office in Vepery.
Motorists can independently verify their records through the official Parivahan e-Challan portal or Next Gen e-Challan. Online payments can be made through Next Gen e-Challan, Paytm, post offices or Tamil Nadu e-Sevai centres. Fines related to drunk-driving cases must be paid through the courts, according to the information issued by the traffic police.
The initiative places a short deadline on motorists to review their records and settle outstanding amounts. It also reflects the administrative challenge created when automated enforcement generates notices faster than vehicle owners can identify, verify or act on them. The special centres are intended to provide a physical and assisted verification route alongside online services.
The traffic police has warned that repeat offenders booked multiple times for the same violation could face enhanced fines and further action, including suspension or cancellation of their driving licences. Motorists have been given the September 21-30 window to check their pending challans and clear eligible fines through the listed channels.
