Cops make novel moves to catch traffic violators in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: Hari, a two-wheeler owner, tried to make a swift move before he could realise that a cop was fast approaching him as he violated a traffic rule.

Within minutes, an e-challan was generated and issued to him by the cop. Hari was left with no other option than to pay fine.

Like Hari, several traffic violators end up paying fines by swiping a point of sale machine or through mobile App or online payment as soon as they receive e-challans.

Though many make online payments to clear the fines, a total 5.88 lakh e-challans are yet to be paid. So far, an amount of Rs.28.66 crore was collected from the violators under various heads across the district.

Sharing details with The Hans India, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) M Ramesh Kumar said, "e-challans that date back to 2018 continue to be pending. Only 24 percent of total e-challans issued has been collected so far from violators. A special drive is in place to collect the rest of penalty."

While 3.09 lakh e-challans were issued in 2018, a total of 2.99 lakh of e-challans were issued in 2019 (March to October).

The e-challan system was initiated in 2007. Later, it was upgraded in 2017 with new software. e-challans can be issued through personal contact or non-contact once the violation is being caught in CC camera or image captured by the cop. SMS will be sent to the respective violators, a step towards evidence-based enforcement of rules.

With RLVD (red light violation detection) cameras located in all major junctions in the city, the devices are being programmed to record violation such as not wearing helmet, against one way, signal jumping, over speeding and not fastening seatbelt. RLVD cameras are controlled from command control centre.

Challenges of cops

One of the challenges the cops face in clearing pending e-challans is that many motorists fail to receive an SMS as their details were not being updated with RTA. As a result, many violators fail to get e-challan alerts. Eventually, hundreds of e-challans remain undelivered.

In a smart city like Vizag where there are lakhs of motorists resorting to traffic violation, the cops make smart moves to tighten the surveillance on them, using technology.