NEW DELHI: Thirty-one states and UTs have mopped up around Rs 12,632 crore in fines for traffic rule violations between 2019 and 2024, the road transport ministry told Lok Sabha on Thursday. It also informed that during these five years, 18.2 crore e-challans were issued for violations.
UP topped the list in collection of fines (Rs 2,495 crore), followed by Haryana (Rs 1,465 crore) and Bihar (Rs 1,404 crore), according to data shared by the ministry in a reply in the lower house. Among UTs, Delhi collected Rs 571 crore in fines. The fines and penalties for traffic rule violations were increased substantially in 2019 after the amended Motor Vehicle Act came into force.
The data showed that the highest number of e-challans, nearly 5.6 crore, was issued in Tamil Nadu and the fine collected was Rs 755 crore, compared to UP issuing 4.4 crore e-challans but having the highest fine collection. Interestingly, Andhra Pradesh, despite being a big state, collected barely Rs 77.5 lakh in fines through e-challans, which was less than that of the fine collected in Mizoram (Rs 1.4 crore).
The ministry said till last month, approximately 38.5 crore vehicles were registered in the country, and the total number of valid driving and learner licenses was 18.2 crore and 95.8 lakh, respectively. “As per the provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, multiple classes of vehicle may be added in a driving license. An individual or entities like companies, NGOs, government and local bodies may own more than one motor vehicle in their name,” it said.
Quoting data from the Insurance Information Bureau (IIB), the ministry said around 17.5 crore vehicles are insured, and vehicles with valid PUC are a little over 5.3 crore. As per the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, new vehicles, which have not completed one year from the date of their initial registration, are not required to undergo pollution check.
It also informed the lower house that till last month, out of 2.2 crore transport vehicles, 10.7 lakh were fitted with Speed Limiting Devices (SLDs).