E-Challans Fail to Close Gap in Ahmedabad’s Fine Recovery
In a bid to streamline traffic enforcement and improve compliance, Ahmedabad’s traffic department has introduced a series of technological measures in recent years. However, while these advancements – such as the launch of the Violation on Camera (VoC) mobile app – promise a brighter future, the city still grapples with a persistent issue: the inadequate recovery of traffic fines. Despite issuing millions of e-challans over the past nine years, the recovery rate remains alarmingly low, casting a shadow over the efficiency of the city’s traffic fine collection system.
Between 2015 and 2024, Ahmedabad issued an overwhelming 99.8 million e-challans, amounting to a total of ₹464 crore. However, of this staggering figure, only ₹111 crore has been recovered, leaving an outstanding balance of ₹352 crore. This results in a recovery rate of only 30%, a statistic that remains largely unchanged despite the adoption of the “One Nation, One Challan” system and other tech-driven initiatives. While the technological integration of systems like the VoC app empowers 1,200 traffic constables to issue e-challans on the spot, the question arises: Are these innovations truly achieving their intended outcomes?
In 2024, the traffic department issued 6.8 lakh e-challans worth ₹53.36 crore. Yet, only ₹25.8 crore of this sum has been collected, signalling a significant gap between fines imposed and payments received. The figures suggest that even with advancements in enforcement technology and greater ease of challan issuance, actual payment compliance continues to be a major challenge. Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), N. N. Chaudhary, remains optimistic about future recovery, highlighting that the VoC app could boost compliance in the long term. Additionally, the department has organised Lok Adalats to assist commuters in settling outstanding fines, further reinforcing efforts to improve recovery rates.
While technological advances are necessary to modernise traffic management, a deeper issue lies in behavioural compliance. The rise in licence suspensions reflects a growing frustration among authorities regarding repeat offenders. From January to November 2024, Ahmedabad saw the suspension or cancellation of over 7,700 driving licences, a notable increase from the previous year. More than four driving licences were cancelled every day in 2024, compared to three every two days in 2023. This trend underscores the growing concern over habitual violations and the challenges in enforcing long-term accountability.
To tackle these issues, Ahmedabad’s traffic department has employed a multi-pronged approach that includes various methods of issuing e-challans. These include the deployment of speed guns, interceptor vehicles, and dashboard cameras on highways, as well as the use of automated systems at key intersections. Despite these efforts, a crucial question remains: how can enforcement measures be enhanced to ensure higher compliance rates? With 99.81 million e-challans issued and only ₹111 crore recovered, the city’s ongoing struggle to close this gap highlights a need for further systemic reforms, perhaps addressing behavioural motivations, legal enforcement, and public awareness.
From a civic standpoint, the low recovery rate of traffic fines presents a significant challenge to maintaining the city’s urban infrastructure and ensuring the safety of its residents. Fines collected from traffic violations contribute directly to improving road safety, funding public infrastructure, and maintaining law and order. As such, the failure to recover a significant portion of imposed fines hinders the city’s efforts to invest in crucial sustainable infrastructure projects.
Looking ahead, the sustainability angle remains essential in the broader context of urban development. With rapid urbanisation and increasing traffic congestion, Ahmedabad must focus on creating more sustainable urban solutions. The integration of technology in traffic enforcement and the growing importance of environmental consciousness in urban planning can both help to ensure the long-term success of traffic management systems. Without meaningful improvements in fine recovery, however, the city may struggle to meet the financial demands of these important initiatives.
