Chandigarh, May 24 – In a stark indicator of the rising disregard for road safety norms, Chandigarh Traffic Police issued more than 3.25 lakh challans and recovered ₹5.35 crore in fines in just the first four months of 2024, official records show. This marks the highest challaning rate for the January–April period since 2020.
Data accessed by this publication reveals that speeding, helmetless driving, and red-light violations continue to top the list of traffic offences in the city.
“Despite having one of the most robust traffic monitoring systems in India, the volume of violations reflects a worrying trend,” said a senior traffic police official.
Between January and April this year, the department also impounded about 1,800 vehicles and suspended 90 driving licences of habitual or repeat offenders.
The rise in traffic violations comes despite Chandigarh’s reputation for strict enforcement and advanced surveillance infrastructure. The figures appear to reinforce growing public concerns over road discipline and safety across the Union Territory.
Historical comparisons highlight the scale of the challenge. In 2023, over 10.32 lakh challans were issued — the highest annual total in recent memory — while 2022 saw the largest financial recovery, amounting to ₹28.33 crore.
A year-wise breakdown further illustrates the trend:
- 2020: 1.87 lakh challans, ₹14.73 crore fine, 16,913 vehicles impounded, 10,206 licences seized
- 2021: 2.43 lakh challans, ₹15 crore fine, 2,846 vehicles impounded, 8,403 licences seized
- 2022: 6.11 lakh challans, ₹28.33 crore fine, 4,210 vehicles impounded, 2,944 licences seized
- 2023: 10.32 lakh challans, ₹26.26 crore fine, 10,209 vehicles impounded, 1,730 licences seized
- 2024 (till April): 10.25 lakh challans, ₹21.38 crore fine, 5,504 vehicles impounded, 800 licences seized
Among this year’s top violations:
- 1.55 lakh challans were issued for red-light jumping
- 39,000 for over-speeding
- 38,000+ for stepping on zebra crossings
- Notably, helmetless driving, a major concern in past years, saw a sharp drop to just 3,100 challans
Drunken driving, however, is once again rising. Nearly 1,900 cases were registered between January and April — the highest for a four-month span since 2020. In comparison, 2023 saw 3,254 such cases, while the 2022 and 2020 figures stood at 166 and 322, respectively. No cases were recorded in 2021.
Meanwhile, the least-enforced violations since 2020 included:
- Taxis operating without fare meters
- Minors driving without licences
- Missing high-security registration plates on two-wheelers
Traffic Police Infrastructure
The city’s traffic force, headed by an SSP-rank officer, consists of 643 personnel, including:
- 6 DSPs
- 11 Inspectors
- 22 Sub-Inspectors
- 20 Head Constables
- 267 Constables
- 84 Lady Constables
- 169 Volunteers
The department also operates 96 vehicles, including 76 two-wheelers and 20 four-wheelers, with procurement underway for eight new interceptor SUVs.
A senior official concluded, “The enforcement is there, but compliance remains a major issue. Public awareness and stricter behavioural interventions are needed to ensure road safety.”
