Gujarat: E-challan system strengthened with fixed timelines for dispute
New Delhi/Gandhinagar, June 16 The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has tightened enforcement provisions under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, introducing stricter timelines for e-challan objections and payment while mandating licence suspension for repeated traffic violations.
Under the revised framework, a driving licence will be liable for immediate suspension if a vehicle driver or owner accumulates five or more challans within a single year.
Authorities have stated that this measure is intended to improve compliance with traffic regulations and strengthen road discipline.
The new rules also introduce a 45-day window for raising objections or complaints against any e-challan issued through the official portal.
If no representation is filed within this period, the challan will be deemed to have been automatically accepted by the vehicle owner or driver.
Following such deemed acceptance, payment of the challan amount must be completed within 30 days.
If the challan is not paid within the stipulated period, the concerned vehicle will be marked as "Not to be transacted" on the VAHAN portal and effectively blocked.
Once blocked, the vehicle will not be eligible for services such as driving licence processing, registration certificate-related work, or other administrative transactions until all dues are cleared, though tax-related services will remain unaffected.
The rules further provide that if a grievance raised by a vehicle owner is rejected by the competent authority, the individual will be required to pay the full challan amount within 30 days.
Alternatively, they may deposit 50 per cent of the challan amount through the e-challan portal as a security deposit to pursue an appeal before the court.
If neither option is exercised, the challan will be treated as accepted, and payment must be made within 15 days, failing which the vehicle will also be placed under the "Not to be transacted" category.
A state-level advisory accompanying the announcement urged motorists in Gujarat to strictly comply with traffic regulations and to ensure the timely settlement of pending e-challans to avoid penalties, vehicle blocking, and suspension of driving licences.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Honestly, I'm tired of driving in Ahmedabad with all the jaywalkers and auto-rickshaws who think traffic signals are optional. At least this might force some discipline. But my concern is - what if someone gets challans due to a stolen vehicle or mistaken identity? The system needs to be foolproof before punishing innocent people. 😕
I support stricter enforcement, but 5 challans in a year for licence suspension seems harsh. In Indian cities, minor violations like wrong parking in crowded areas can easily happen. Why not focus on serious offences like drunk driving first? Also, the "Not to be transacted" tag will cripple many small businesses that rely on their vehicles for livelihood. Needs more nuance.
This is exactly what we needed! In Canada, traffic fines are strict and it works. I hope Indian cities like Vadodara and Surat implement this properly. But please, ensure the e-challan portal has multilingual support - not everyone is comfortable with English or Gujarati online. Also, make the payment process easy with UPI and cards. 👍
Finally some accountability! But I've read that in many states, e-challan cameras are poorly maintained and false challans are common. In Gujarat, I've heard of cases where challans were issued even when the vehicle was parked legally. The 45-day window is good, but will the grievance officers actually respond within that time? Also, 50% security deposit for appeal is steep for common people.
As someone who drives daily in Gujarat's industrial corridors, I welcome this
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