Can’t lock down Delhi’s speed devils, police issue 4.5 lakh speeding challans in lockdown
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India

Can’t lock down Delhi’s speed devils, police issue 4.5 lakh speeding challans in lockdown

Many of Delhi's 'violators' took to Twitter to complain that they hadn't even stepped out of their homes but were being challaned for traffic violations.

Ananya Bhardwaj    
Police check vehicles at a checkpoint on the Delhi-Haryana border | PTI

Police check vehicles at a checkpoint on the Delhi-Haryana border | PTI

New Delhi: The Delhi Traffic Police has in the past month issued 4,54,438 challans for speeding, amounting to approximately Rs 90 crore, but many of the alleged offenders claim it couldn’t have been them since they haven’t stepped out of their homes due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

According to a senior traffic police officer, motorists have been speeding, given that the roads have remained relatively empty during the lockdown. This has often led to accidents.

“People are overspeeding because the roads are empty with very little traffic. The speed guns that are installed on roads make a note when any vehicle runs above the permissible speed limit and a challan is automatically generated,” the officer said.

Traffic Police said that each challan comes with a picture of the vehicle speeding, clicked by cameras installed on stretches and intersections.

“If there is a picture of the vehicle clicked by the camera on the spot, then that is a valid proof stating that the driver did violate the rules,” the officer said. “These are all electronic challans that are machine based. It is not that personnel is issuing these challans,” the officer added.

Also read: Delhi to Mumbai, cities braced for Monday traffic rush after 4 weeks of strict lockdown

Multiple challans, but proof unavailable 

Several motorists, who received multiple challans amounting to lakhs of rupees, sent out panic mails to the Delhi Traffic Police seeking assistance.

Many also complained that they could not open the clip attached with the challan, which serves as the proof of their misdemeanour.

“Sir I also got this, but image is not opening, can u provide the image for violation proof,” read a tweet by Dheeraj Pawar addressed to the traffic police.

Speaking to ThePrint on the condition of anonymity, a cab driver said he was issued 125 challans, amounting to Rs 3.5 lakh in total, within a month of the lockdown. He also claimed that many of speeding tickets came with attachments that did not open.

“I may have sped in a few places. But after the first two challans, I became very cautious about the same. I do not understand how I got 125 such challans. It is impossible,” he said.

“In many challans, the clip in which the vehicle’s picture is shown, is not opening. I wonder, if I am unable to prove my innocence … how will I ever afford to pay Rs 3.5 lakhs as challan money?” he said.

While people posted their grievances on Twitter and tagged the Delhi Traffic Police, the police responded by asking them to email them in detail at info@delhitrafficpolice.nic.in.

Several complained that there was no response from the police yet, despite shooting several emails.

“These are all machine-based challans and are a matter of record. In case there is any specific issue, we are happy to check our records and resolve those. We will be taking care of all specific complaints,” the police officer said.

Also read: Delhi Police will track quarantined patients through mobile location, says Kejriwal

Twitter turns ‘grievance redressal box’

Many people used Twitter to report their issue with the challans.

“3 wrong traffic challans issued when my car was parked at my home. Pl let me know how & where to report and get these cancelled,” tweeted Rajan Soni, while J.K. Yadav claimed he received a challan even though he currently lives in Varanasi.


Manish Saini said he found it “shocking” when he received the challan though his vehicle was “standing at home”.

Also read: Delhi ‘forced to agree’, Maharashtra says no — states split on MHA order easing lockdown