A total of 20.02 lakh challans are still unpaid among the 35.93 lakh challans issued by the Chandigarh Traffic Police since 2019, revealed the data obtained via an RTI. In the RTI reply by the Chandigarh Traffic Police, over the past six years and four months (from Jan 1, 2019 to 2025 till May 4), 35,93,667 (35.93 lakh) challans have been issued across the city roads to vehicles registered in Chandigarh and outside, however a majority of the violators — 20,02,995 (20.02 lakh), have not responded to the fines, and just 15,90,672 (15.9 lakh) challans were paid by violators. In 2025 itself, till May 4, 2025 — 3,27,732 challans were issued by the traffic police, however just 71,00,85 challans were paid by violators. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) (Traffic) Sumer Pratap Singh said that the failure to clear the challans will result in suspension of driving licences and registration certificates, as been recommended by Chandigarh Traffic Police to the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA), Chandigarh to act further against the violators who are habitual offenders. A list of offenders, who have been issued multiple challans, in the city has been prepared and the RLA has been suspending driving licences on the basis of this list. Also, a habitual traffic offender, will not be able to get PUC (pollution under control) certificate for his vehicle, thus attracting more challans and fines, a traffic police official said. Meanwhile, R K Garg, an RTI Activist in Chandigarh, raised questions on the issue stating that, “there is urgent need to find out reasons for such an all-time high pendency of traffic violation challans”. “The pace of payment of challans should speed up, otherwise the challans piled up will take several years to get cleared.” “With such a large number of challans and less recovery, we still lack the safe and efficient traffic management. It is worrisome that fatal accidents have killed 8 persons per month and dangerous driving is on increase. The concerned departments must take a call unless it is too late,” added Garg. According to records, Rs 5.35-crore fine was collected from 3.25 lakh challans issued by the Chandigarh Police in 2025 till April. In 2024 — Rs 21.38-crore fine was received from 10.25 lakh challans, and Rs 26.26 crore from 10.32 challans issued in 2023. The maximum fine collected in the past five years was in 2022, when Rs 28.33 from 6.11 lakh challans were received, whereas in 2021 — Rs 15-crore fine was collected against 2.42 lakh challans. Red light jump, speeding top offences Three offences — red light jump, speeding, and driving without helmet, are the top three offences committed by the violators in Chandigarh. In 2025, till April — 1.55 lakh challans were issued for red light jump, 39,000 for speeding, and 3,100 for driving without helmet. Similarly, in 2024 — 5,00,952 challans were issued for red light jump, 1,47,663, for speeding, and 84,737 for driving without helmet, and in 2023 — 4,25,048 challans for red light jump, 2,06,276 for speeding, and 1,28,935 for driving without helmet, were raised.
