AI-powered surveillance cameras at the Old Market traffic circle in Margao. File photo
MARGAO
Motorists, beware! After paying your vehicleinsurance premium, make sure to double-check with your insurance companywhether the payment details have been updated on the Vahan portal. Otherwise,you may still end up receiving a challan of Rs 2,000 from the AI-poweredsurveillance cameras for driving an uninsured vehicle.
The issue has reportedly arisen afterAI-powered surveillance cameras flagged vehicles for non-payment of insurancepremiums, even though the owners had duly paid their premiums to the respectiveinsurance companies within the stipulated time.
In fact, several aggrieved vehicle owners havecomplained that they have received challans despite having renewed theirvehicle insurance policies and paid the premiums within the stipulated time,leaving them in a predicament through no fault of their own.
When some of the affected motorists approachedthe Road Transport Office (RTO) at Margao with copies of their insurancedocuments, they were reportedly informed by officials manning the AI camerasurveillance system that the insurance payment details had not been updated onthe Vahan portal by the respective insurance companies.
Caught between the insurance companies and theAI-powered surveillance system, vehicle owners are now being forced to run frompillar to post, approaching both the insurance companies and the RTO office toget their payment details updated and resolve the challans.
“Why should vehicle owners be made to sufferfor the negligence, if any, of insurance companies? Can't the government directinsurance companies to strictly follow the norms and ensure that every premiumpayment is promptly updated on the Vahan portal?” questioned an aggrieved vehicleowner.
He further pointed out that motoristsapproaching the RTO office at Arlem were directed to the office handling the AIcamera surveillance system, where they were advised to access an onlinegrievance redressal link to resolve the issue.
“Not everyone is familiar with online systems.Many vehicle owners, particularly those who are not technologically savvy, findit difficult to navigate these procedures. They should not be made to sufferbecause of a technical or administrative lapse on the part of insurancecompanies,” he said.
The vehicle owner has called for the immediateintervention of the government, particularly Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho,to spare motorists unnecessary harassment and inconvenience despite havingfulfilled their legal obligation of paying vehicle insurance premiums.
He demanded that the government issue acircular directing all insurance companies to put in place an effectivemechanism to ensure that premium payments are promptly and automaticallyreflected on the Vahan portal.
The affected motorists have also demanded thatthe private agency managing the AI-powered surveillance cameras streamline itsgrievance redressal mechanism by setting up a dedicated help desk to assistvehicle owners who receive challans despite holding valid insurance policies.
“A help desk should be made compulsory at theoffice concerned to guide motorists through the online grievance redressalprocess and help them rectify discrepancies. Those who are unfamiliar withdigital systems should not be left to fend for themselves,” the vehicle owneradded.
The motorists have urged the authorities toaddress the issue as a priority and ensure that genuine vehicle owners are notpenalised for delays or lapses in updating insurance records by the companiesconcerned.
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Insurance challan issue to be raised with Transport Director
MARGAO: Assistant Director of RTO (Enforcement) Nixon Soareshas assured that he will take up the issue with the Director of Transport bywriting to him about the difficulties faced by vehicle owners who have receivedchallans despite having paid their insurance premiums on time.
Admitting that motorists were not responsiblefor the discrepancies leading to the issuance of such challans, Soares said hisoffice would bring the matter to the notice of the Transport Director and urgehim to issue a circular directing insurance companies to promptly update insurancepremium payment details on the Vahan portal.
Meanwhile, RTO officials familiar with theissue said vehicle owners were being unnecessarily harassed through no fault oftheir own.
“Vehicle owners cannot be held responsible foran issue that falls squarely within the domain of insurance companies. Nor canthe AI surveillance agency be blamed, as challans are generated on the basis ofthe information available on the Vahan portal,” an RTO official said.
