NOIDA: The Noida Authority is upgrading a system that will automatically generate text messages to motorists if they cross the speed limit on the Noida expressway. Currently, the system only identifies traffic violators for speeding and challans are sent to them through speed post.
But, it has been seen that only 15% of the violators have turned up to pay the fine as many of them don’t receive the messages or challans. Officials in the Authority and traffic cops believe a real time text message will act as a reminder to e-way users and sensitise them to keep a check on speed.
In an RTI reply, Noida traffic police has said that 75,389 challans were sent to violators for speeding on the Noida Expressway since March 2015. Data show that from March to December 2015, a total of 16,671 challans were issued. In 2016, a total of 11,338 challans were issued to motorists for speeding on the e-way. In 2017, 11,490 challans were issued to violators. This year, 35,890 challans have been issued till October.
Ranjan Tomar, the RTI applicant, said only 15% of those issued the challans have actually paid them. “HTMS is considered a high-tech system for issuing challans to traffic violators. But there were several months when no challans were issued. This is intriguing,” he said.
SP (traffic) Anil Kumar Jha said there were a few months when challans could not be issued for technical reasons. “There were some issues with the printer and the system could not generate challans. HTMS cameras were also non-functional for some time. Now, the issues have been fixed and challans are being issued to violators,” he said.
Asked about the poor response to challans from violators, Jha said people often change their homes but do not update the details on the traffic portal. “At times, postal delays add to the problem. Some violators deliberately ignore the challans and payments. In such cases, we move the files to the district court and request for legal notices and punishment,” he said. Officials said the real time text alerts would start functioning by this month. “The system will immediately generate an alert if a vehicle is speeding on the expressway. An SMS will be sent on the registered number of the vehicle owner about the same. It will act as a reminder to road users and also help in keeping tabs on speed limits,” Jha said.
