PANAJI
After five years of relying on a system meant to streamline traffic fine collections -- amid a series of alleged irregularities -- Goa Police has purportedly admitted to flaws in its e-challan mechanism.
The decision to shift to an entirely digital payment with strict removal of cash for paying the fine also comes after a lady police constable was accused of misappropriating Rs 17.30 lakh cash collected in fine while at Bicholim police station.
Reliable police sources confirmed to The Goan that the department will enforce a digital-only mode for motor vehicle fine payments from the new financial year, doing away with cash transactions entirely.
Inspector General of Police Omvir Singh Bishnoi, reportedly displeased with the controversy, is pushing for a cleaner system to restore public trust.
“The Department introduced e-challan machines to replace manual challans in 2020, allowing payments through cash, debit/credit cards and QR codes. However, loopholes in the system surfaced which prompted the Department to review and re-introduce with a policy change,” sources revealed.
With the revised system, traffic violators must make payments digitally (Debit/Credit card or QR code) and those unable to pay on the spot will have to visit the designated Traffic Cell or Police Station to settle their challan.
A dedicated ledger is required to track cash transactions with the changes expected to be implemented in the upcoming financial year.
For those with pending challans, payments can be made via echallan.parivahan.gov.in/index/accused-challan which violators will also receive via SMS.
The department had earlier this month decided to shift to cashless challan payments for traffic fines starting 2025-26 financial year, after the Rs 17.30 lakh fraud at Bicholim police station between February and December 2024.
Before an internal audit by Goa Police, the constable managed to get her transfer to the Colvale Escort Cell. The case, after The Goan’s expose, saw the lady constable’s suspension with the defrauded amount returned to the exchequer.
