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 issued for traffic violations across the city. The centres will function daily from 9am to 7pm, while police will also contact vehicle owners and send bulk SMS alerts about unpaid fines.
The initiative has been launched because several motorists are unaware that e-challans have been generated against their vehicles, according to the traffic police. The notices may relate to violations detected through automatic number plate recognition cameras, traffic regulation observation zones and other enforcement systems.
Police said some vehicle owners avoid opening links sent by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways because they suspect the messages may be fraudulent. The special centres will allow motorists to verify whether a challan is genuine, check the amount due and receive assistance with enquiries either in person or over the phone.
The centres will be 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 pending e-challans through the official Parivahan e-Challan portal or Next Gen e-Challan. Outstanding fines can be paid online 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, the police said.
The traffic police have given motorists a week to check and clear pending fines through the special support arrangement. The move also seeks to address a practical problem in automated enforcement: a violation can be recorded digitally, but the vehicle owner may not immediately know that a notice has been generated or how to verify it safely.
The police said repeat offenders booked multiple times for the same violation could face enhanced fines and further action. This may include suspension or cancellation of the driving licence, according to an official release. Motorists with pending notices can use the special centres during the September 21-30 window or check their records through the official online systems before making a payment.
