e-Challans bringing traffic discipline among commuters

 Kurnool: Road commuters in Kurnool city had in the past a tendency to drive jay, disregarding traffic signals and violating restrictions, often posing challenges to fellow commuters and police personnel.

Police struggled to capture such violators on their mobile phones to register cases and impose fines on them. However, introduction of e-challan system has eased booking of traffic violation cases. As a result, many violators have been brought to book.

Thanks to the recent introduction of issuing electronic traffic challans, commuters, particularly motorists and auto-rickshaw drivers, are now more cautious. They have largely refrained from crossing traffic signals.

Further, the system allows traffic violators to pay their fines electronically, eliminating the earlier system of cumbersome procedures for payment of fines. Offenders can no longer evade fines, as the online system maintains precise and easily accessible records of violations.

Since its implementation in the first week of November, around 13,500 cases have been recorded under the e-challan system till now. Even in the absence of police personnel at various junctions in the city, people are not daring to cross signals, as strategically placed cameras are catching them, said traffic DSP M. Nagabhushanam.

The e-challan system automatically activates high-tech CC cameras whenever a red signal is displayed. These cameras capture violations, automatically generate e-challans, and fine the violators. The system is closely monitored at the police headquarters in Vijayawada.

A senior official from transport department said that the primary goal of this system is to reduce road safety violations.

Currently, there are 135 high-tech CC cameras installed at major junctions in the city. The system is jointly observed by Road Transport Authority (RTA), police and Kurnool Municipal Corporation (KMC), under supervision of the state DGP office.

Awareness programs have been conducted to educate public about the e-challan system and penalties for violations, the senior official stated.

Most cases registered are against auto-rickshaws, two-wheelers and a few school buses, which do not obey traffic signals at city junctions.