Traffic fine concession move opens Pandora's box

In order to allow people to check and pay their pending traffic-related fines, we will provide a link on Saturday — Senior traffic officia

Hameed Ashraf | NT

Bengaluru: Following the State government's announcement of 50 per cent rebates in e-challan cases registered by the traffic police, motorists in the city who started checking their pending violations let out a foul cry, complaining about false challans and glitches in the online portal.

E-challan cases are those booked when violations are caught on traffic surveillance cameras. Bengaluru Special Commissioner, Traffic, Dr MA Saleem said there were over two crore echallan cases which may total up to a penalty of Rs 500 crore in the city.

This is over 80% of such cases pending across the State. Soon after the announcement of the rebate went viral, the helplines and social media handle belonging to Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) were flooded with reports by netizens. While some users complained about the non-operational BTP website, others claimed to have received the wrong traffic violation challans.

"My vehicle is a Honda Dio, not a Pulsar 180. Kindly look into the issue and remove the fine," reported a user on Twitter by tagging BTP's official handle and sharing a screenshot of three pending helmet violations against him. Another posted saying, "As I'm a Sikh and exempted to wear a helmet while riding, please update the below challans," he said while sharing seven helmet violation cases on his vehicle.

In reply, the BTP asked them to report the matter via mail to automationpubbcp@ksp.gov.in for violation rectification or visit the Traffic Management Centre on Infantry Road. Speaking to News Trail on Friday, a senior traffic official said that the interface on the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) website is being updated. "In order to allow people to check and pay their pending traffic-related fines, we will provide a link on Saturday (today)," he said.

"Meanwhile, people can check if they have any cases pending against their vehicles and make use of the rebate window," he added. The decision to provide rebates came during a recent meeting chaired by the Karnataka Legal Services Authority. It was suggested that steps be taken to ensure the settling of these cases.

Following this, the Commissioner for Transport and Road Safety proposed a one-time measure of a 50 per cent rebate. In 2021, the Telangana police offered a one-time opportunity to clear off the pending traffic violation bills with a 75 per cent discount on the outstanding amount for two and threewheelers and 50 per cent for light motor vehicles and heavy motor vehicles.