No driver is careful enough to have not violated a few traffic rules in their long driving record. Over-speeding, jumping a signal, parking in a no-parking zone—we all have attracted a challan or two at some time. More serious offences include not having car documents such as car insurance papers handy when driving your car.
Before the digitalisation of RTO processes, clearing a challan or fine demanded a lot of time and running around. However, now, all this has been made easy with the introduction of the e-challan system. Today, you can see a challan issued in your name online. You may also check the e-challan status before and after paying the fine amount.
Traffic e-challans: What are they?
Traffic e-challans are generated via electronic or digital platforms. Now, if you violate a traffic rule, the traffic police issue a challan to you there and then. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) digitised the challan system to reduce paperwork and ease the fine collection process.
E-challans is a cohesive platform used for enforcing traffic laws via information technology. Without being present on the scene, traffic personnel can not only issue e-challans to noncompliant drivers but also collect fines, as per the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act 2019.
Traffic challans are a seamless way of penalising traffic violations such as overspeeding, not wearing a helmet, or not having car insurance. There are two ways in which e-challans achieve this goal:
- Traffic personnel can pull up a driver for violating a traffic rule and generate an e-challan for the violation.
- E-challans are automatically issued via speed guns and traffic surveillance cameras when any driver breaks a red signal or goes above the speed limit. After the cameras register the vehicle’s make, model, and number plate, the e-challan is issued against the vehicle owner.
Different cities in India follow different types of automated systems. In some cities, the systems capture the vehicle on camera and issue a penalty. In other cities, the traffic personnel carry out operations manually. It is done by issuing e-challans via a mobile app that is linked to the RTO database.
Drivers can simply log into their systems to view offences, challan status, and fine-related information. There is no need to report at a police station or an RTO to pay your fine. You can pay it via net banking, debit cards, or through other digital platforms.
Besides following traffic rules religiously, you must buy motor insurance every year to ensure you are never caught without valid car insurance.
Understanding the traffic e-challans process flow
- The CCTV cameras record the violation
- The Traffic Enforcement Officer is informed
- Officer verifies the offence
- E-challan is generated
- The driver gets an e-challan on the registered mobile number and/or email address
- Once the driver pays the penalty amount, the e-challan record shows as cleared
How to pay your e-challan online
To make the process of paying fines hassle-free, traffic authorities have set up a user-friendly website for traffic compliance. This makes paying e-challans online both simple and convenient.
Additionally, each e-challan has a unique code to avoid any confusion while making your payment. So, if you do not buy motor insurance and receive an e-challan for this violation, you can use the e-challan number to find your e-challan particulars and make the payment for the same.
Remember that you have 60 days to pay your fines after receiving a notification on your registered mobile number or email address. Nonetheless, it is advisable to make the payment as soon as you can. If you fail to pay the fine within 60 days, legal action will be initiated against you.
Here are the steps to make your e-challan payment:
- Go to the https://echallan.parivahan.gov.in/index/accused-challan link
- Furnish mandatory details such as challan number and driving licence number
- After entering your details, proceed by tapping the “Get Detail” link
- The system exhibits your e-challan status on the screen
- Click the “Pay Now” option to pay the fine
- Select a payment mode—credit cards, debit cards, or net banking. Pay the penalty amount. You will get a message on your registered email address/mobile number confirming your payment has been successful.
E-challan status: How to check online?
You will be informed after a challan is issued to you. It could be because you did not buy motor insurance or due to the violation of some other traffic rule. You will receive an RTO-generated Challan SMS and email message on your registered mobile number and email address, respectively.
It may happen that you were issued an e-challan for the lack of car insurance, but you did not receive an SMS or email about it. In such cases, you can view your e-challan status online. Here’s how:
- Visit the official website of “E-Challan Parivahan”
- Tap the “Check Online Service” tab on the service bar menu
- Proceed by clicking on the “Check Challan Status” via the drop-down menu
- The subsequent step is to enter the requisite details including the vehicle number, DL number, and challan number
- Enter the captcha code and click on the “Get Detail” link
- The system will display your e-challan status
The entire process is quite simple and takes only a few minutes of your time.
Conclusion
If you do not receive the e-challan on your registered email ID or mobile number, you can check your e-challan status online. All it takes is a few clicks and a couple of minutes to pay your fines.
However, if you are more comfortable paying your fines offline, you can visit your nearest traffic police station or RTO office to pay over the counter.
