Pimpri Chinchwad RTO Sends 1L Penalty Notices Through SMS alerts
Pimpri Chinchwad RTO Sends 1L Penalty Notices Through SMS alerts
SMS Service started to curb traffic rules violations.
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Regional Transport Office (RTO) has taken a significant step towards modernizing its services by introducing a new system of sending alerts via SMS to vehicle owners.
These alerts will cover issues such as overdue fines, taxes and the renewal of fitness certificates. The initiative aims to simplify processes for vehicle owners, reduce the need for in-person visits, and ensure that they stay up to date on essential documentation. To address the rising number of traffic violations and overdue fines, the Pimpri Chinchwad Regional Transport Office (RTO) has begun sending SMS notifications to vehicle owners. Last week, the department introduced the SMS service, CP-RTOPCM, in collaboration with a private company. Vehicle owners are now receiving these penalty notices via their registered mobile numbers.
Meanwhile, the Pimpri Chinchwad RTO has been witnessing a steady month-on-month increase in the number of motorists paying overdue fines. Despite sending multiple notices, many motorists failed to respond. As a result, the Pimpri Chinchwad Regional Transport Department has partnered with a private company to launch this SMS service. By clicking on the link provided in the message, citizens can access their notices in both English and Marathi, informed Rahul Jadhav, deputy regional transport officer of Pimpri Chinchwad.
The list of over one lakh vehicle owners in Pimpri Chinchwad has been provided to the company. Messages are being sent to the concerned vehicle owners in a phased manner, giving them the option to pay their dues directly. No review has been conducted on the effectiveness of this initiative yet. It remains to be seen how motorists will respond under pressure but a review is planned for next week, after which necessary changes will be implemented, said Jadhav. In the initial phase, around one lakh vehicle owners will receive messages about pending fines. These messages will include a link that directs vehicle owners to an online platform where they can view the fines and take necessary action.
By allowing direct access through mobile phones, this new system aims to save vehicle owners from making time-consuming trips to the RTO office, enabling faster processing.
The introduction of SMS alerts is part of a broader effort to digitize and streamline operations at the Pimpri-Chinchwad RTO. Over the past few months, the RTO has been working on providing more online services to ease the burden on citizens.
Previously, vehicle owners had to rely on postal notices, which often led to delays. The new SMS system ensures that notices about pending fines, fitness certificate renewals, and other important updates are received promptly. The new process is also expected to reduce the heavy footfall at the RTO, as vehicle owners can now manage much of their vehicle-related work remotely. This includes services like license renewals and obtaining choice numbers for vehicles, for which the online system has already been well-received.
Vehicle owners will now receive messages directly from the RTO under the name ‘CP-RTOPCM.’ These messages will provide a link through which the recipient can access information about their vehicle’s pending fines or overdue documents. The system offers support in both English and Marathi, making it accessible to a wider audience.
In the first phase, the focus will be on recovering overdue fines and taxes. As the system develops, additional notifications will be sent regarding renewals of fitness certificates and driving licenses. Despite receiving legal notices, many do not take the matter seriously. Now, the RTO is preparing a list of such vehicle owners, and in the second phase, SMS notices will also be sent to them.
“The e-notices related to vehicular traffic violations are sent in the first phase. A review will be conducted in the coming weeks.”
