What Went Wrong? Mumbai-Pune Expressway Challan Chaos; Over 6 Lakh Vehicles Fined Wrongly, RTI Reveals
A startling Right to Information (RTI) revelation has exposed a massive flaw in the e-challan system on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, raising serious concerns about the transparency and reliability of traffic enforcement on Maharashtra’s busiest highway.
Between July and December 2024, more than 18.25 lakh e-challans were issued through the Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS), a high-tech traffic monitoring initiative launched by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) in partnership with the state RTO and Highway Police. But over 6.24 lakh of these fines were found to be incorrect, sparking outrage among transporters and everyday drivers alike.
RTI data revealed that nearly 34 out of every 100 challans issued were erroneous. While ITMS is designed to automate enforcement using CCTV cameras and AI-backed systems without human intervention, this automation appears to be misfiring, flagging vehicles for violations they never committed.
Challans are commonly issued for offenses such as over-speeding, lane-cutting, not wearing seatbelts, mobile use while driving, and wrong-side driving. But numerous motorists have reported being fined for violations they did not commit. In many cases, they are forced to pay just to avoid legal complications or delays, even when innocent.
Official Figures (July–December 2024):
- Total e-challans issued: 18,25,579
- Cancelled due to errors: 6,24,569
- Unpaid challans still pending: 10,94,800
This means more than one-third of total challans were deemed invalid—an alarming failure rate for a system touted as intelligent and foolproof.
The Cost of Automation
The ITMS project, which was rolled out with a budget of over ₹100 crore, has already consumed ₹45 crore in funding from the state transport department. It includes 40 gantries and hundreds of high-resolution CCTV cameras across the expressway.
While officials claim ITMS has reduced road accidents and improved discipline, the high number of incorrect challans is undermining public trust. Transporters say they are suffering financially due to repeated fines, and that arbitrary enforcement has become a form of silent looting.
What’s Next?
Citizens are now calling for a review of the ITMS algorithms, improved transparency in challan processing, and an easier process to contest false fines. Some have even suggested the need for a human audit mechanism to prevent such widespread errors.
Until then, the question remains is technology truly serving justice, or simply penalising the common man?
