Traffic challan disposal dips to 17.8% in Jan-Oct

New Delhi witnessed a decline in traffic challan disposal, with only 17.8% of challans processed during the first ten months of 2026 compared to 53.3% in the same period last year. Challan revenue collection plummeted from 51.5% to 16.7% over the same interval. Poor enforcement, attributed to system inefficiencies and political pressures, has led to compromised safety, increased road accidents, fatalities, and pollution.

Out of 90.4 million challans issued from January to October, just 16.1 million were cleared, leaving 74.2 million pending. The total fine amount issued reached ₹16,903.93 crore, but authorities collected only ₹2,824.38 crore, leaving ₹14,079.55 crore unpaid.

The government attributed the decline to an overabundance of e-challans generated through automated enforcement systems, outpacing the capacity of traffic police, transport departments, and courts. Only 2.9% of cases were disposed of in courts, resulting in a backlog of 13.4 million cases.

Since 2015, enforcement agencies have issued 495.7 million e-challans worth ₹76,686.2 crore, but 305.4 million penalties remain unpaid, with a total unpaid amount of ₹50,226.1 crore. A Supreme Court order from September 28 mandates states and union territories to tighten enforcement against motorists failing to pay traffic fines. The court directed authorities to freeze online vehicle-related services, blacklist vehicles with outstanding challans, and deny pollution under control certificates until fines are cleared.