Mumbai authorities have temporarily halted the issuance of mobile-based e-challans for school buses engaged in student pick-up and drop-off, and for tankers queued at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. The decision follows a meeting between officials and transport sector representatives, after widespread complaints of arbitrary and unverified traffic penalties. With growing unrest over the misuse of digital enforcement tools, the state has initiated a formal review to address procedural lapses and ensure more accountable traffic management practices in the city.
The directive to suspend e-challans in these specific cases came from a senior home department official, who acknowledged that the concerns raised by transporters were largely valid. Officials noted that in congested areas of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), school buses often require time to safely board and deboard students—making instant penalisation via mobile photography both insensitive and counterproductive to child safety. Similarly, the issue at JNPT pertains to the long-standing problem of tankers waiting in queue to enter or exit the port. These vehicles, often halted due to systemic logistical delays, were reportedly being penalised without consideration of the circumstances. Experts within the transport panel flagged this as an unfair practice, pointing to the lack of alternate parking infrastructure and the operational necessity of these queues.
The state government’s move to intervene has come in the wake of transporters voicing strong disapproval of what they describe as a “target-based challan system.” A meeting chaired by the state transport department brought together representatives from various bus operator associations and logistics bodies, many of whom criticised the use of personal mobile phones by traffic officers to issue fines. They argued that such enforcement lacks scientific basis and accountability, leading to unverifiable penalties that hurt business continuity. According to sources present at the meeting, officials were urged to differentiate between actual traffic violations and unavoidable operational pauses, especially in high-density urban zones. Committee members underscored that school buses and tankers serve essential public and economic functions, and cannot be treated at par with private traffic in narrow procedural interpretations.
Members of the government-appointed panel overseeing transport enforcement reforms also called for stricter guidelines on the use of handheld mobile devices for issuing challans. A representative of the panel pointed out that many photos taken to justify fines do not include time stamps or location verification, making them unreliable evidence in most legal contexts. The panel is expected to submit its report within the coming weeks, and the temporary relief granted to school buses and tankers will remain in effect until that report is reviewed. Despite the call for a statewide strike by some transport associations, normal movement of goods and public transport was largely unaffected in Mumbai and surrounding areas. Supply chains, including operations at key facilities like the APMC market yard, remained stable, with no reported disruption to food and commodity inflow. This suggests that while the strike failed to mobilise major support, the underlying grievances it sought to highlight have struck a chord with policymakers.
Mumbai’s traffic department, which issues nearly 12,000 challans daily on average, has expressed cautious compliance with the new directive. Senior officers clarified that while traffic violations would continue to be penalised where applicable, the specific categories of school buses and queued tankers would not be targeted via mobile phones unless further instructed. However, no circular had been formally issued at the time of reporting, leaving some ambiguity over immediate enforcement practices on the ground. The broader issue, as pointed out by urban mobility experts, lies in the city’s lack of adequate infrastructure for commercial and institutional vehicles. With limited parking bays, no designated waiting zones near educational institutions or industrial hubs, and increasing digitisation of traffic enforcement, the system has placed an undue burden on essential service operators. In such a scenario, a zero-tolerance digital enforcement model can create more friction than efficiency.
Officials present at the meeting emphasised that structural solutions must accompany enforcement reforms. One key proposal under consideration is the creation of permanent parking and waiting zones for school buses, tankers, and private transport vehicles operating in high-traffic corridors. These spaces would not only reduce roadside congestion but also protect operators from being unfairly penalised due to systemic urban planning gaps. Transport panel members reiterated that automation and digital policing must not override practical realities on ground. The e-challan system, originally conceived as a corruption-free and streamlined enforcement tool, is facing criticism for lacking transparency and room for redress. In many cases, penalties are issued without notice, with no immediate mechanism for operators to contest or verify the evidence. This has resulted in significant financial and operational strain for many small and medium transport operators.
While the ongoing review of e-challan practices is a welcome development, stakeholders stress that it must lead to durable policy changes. The expectation is not merely for temporary exemptions but a broader reform that includes robust protocols, grievance redressal systems, and infrastructural planning to support compliant transport operations. As Mumbai continues to transition into a digitally managed urban ecosystem, the balance between enforcement and fairness will remain a critical benchmark. For now, the pause in mobile-based e-challans signals a much-needed course correction—one that prioritises operational realities over procedural rigidity.
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