PANAJI
More than Rs 58.33 crore worth of traffic e-challan penalties issued for violations under the Motor Vehicles Act remain unpaid in Goa this year, according to data tabled by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting the growing backlog in the recovery of traffic fines in the State.
The data, as on July 30, shows that Rs 58,33,62,618 in e-challan dues remained pending, while the Goa Traffic Cell issued 2,10,152 e-challans during the period.
Although the pending amount is lower than the Rs 85.40 crore recorded in 2024, it is significantly higher than the Rs 23.17 crore reported in 2025.
The year-wise value of unpaid e-challans stood at Rs 6.74 lakh in 2021, Rs 66.46 lakh in 2022, Rs 3.15 crore in 2023, Rs 85.40 crore in 2024, Rs 23.17 crore in 2025, and Rs 58.33 crore till July 30, 2026.
The data also shows that 7,48,712 e-challans were issued in 2021. The number declined to 5,08,333 in 2022 before increasing marginally to 5,58,463 in 2023. In 2024, authorities issued 5,17,841 e-challans, while the figure dropped sharply to 3,56,732 in 2025. Till July 30 this year, 2,10,152 e-challans had been issued.
The figures suggest that while electronic enforcement continues to detect traffic violations effectively, the recovery of penalties remains a major challenge, leaving crores of rupees in unpaid dues and underscoring the need for more effective mechanisms to ensure timely payment of traffic fines.
In his written reply, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution and hence it is State duty to recover penalties.
"Rule 167 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules provides that any police officer or any other officer authorised by the State Government may issue challans for traffic rule violations. As such, the implementation of the e-challan system, including the recovery of penalties for unpaid e-challans, is the responsibility of the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations," Gadkari said.
