E-Challan: What is E-Challan & How to Pay Online?

E-Challan: An Overview

India is the most populated country in the world, and the people are equally known for their excellence and pace. With India's super strong transportation infrastructure, society is never in the rest mode, and neither are the vehicles. With so many vehicles on the road, people are always in a rush violating the traffic laws and escaping from the traffic police resulting in disastrous accidents. But with technological development, the government has taken a step ahead and installed a third eye on the road to strengthening the “Traffic Police'. These cameras capture all the activities on the road and generate the e-challan on a breach that directly reaches the violator’s home. 

The e-challan system has made it easy and transparent to penalize traffic violations. This article will help you understand how e-challan works, check the status and process to pay challan online or offline, and other essential steps to avoid e-challan. Read it out to collect extensive information and cut your challan. 

What is E-Challan?

E-challan is the computer-generated challan launched by Indian traffic police to penalize traffic defaulters in India. The Government of India has initiated the e-challan system for a transparent, convenient, and to encourage easy-settlement of challans. With the facility of e-challan, the general public can now check and pay their challan online or offline as per incorporated by their state/city government. 

What is the Need for E-Challan?

The vehicles' continuous movement makes it difficult and time-consuming for traffic police to monitor and regulate the challan individually. Also, there was a rise in human errors and fake challans, which needed to be eradicated. The following reasons may describe the need for the introduction of e-challan

• To reduce corruption and easy enforcement of traffic laws.
• To bring transparency in the traffic system and challan process to eliminate fake encounters.
• It is not possible to install traffic police everywhere, but with cameras and e-challan, there’s always an eye watching you. 
• Possibility to reduce bribery from the traffic system.
• To ease the challan submission process and hence increase traffic challan collection.
• To increase discipline and decrease violations, hence lower the motor insurance premiums. 
• All in all, to benefit the general public, traffic law enforcement system, and government at the same time

Reasons for Issuance of E-Challan

Don’t get shocked if you get an e-challan on your phone when you are out of town enjoying a vacation and someone in your known is using your vehicle. They might have violated traffic laws. Or, in most cases, you are in a hurry and have violated any of the traffic rules mentioned below

• Driving without a valid license
• Jumping red light
• Overspeeding the specified speed limit
• Drunk driving
• Refusal to disclose information when asked
• Driving an unauthorised vehicle
• Driving without an unauthorised insurance policy
• Causing traffic obstruction

How Does E-Challan Work in India?

The e-challan is a technology-based solution to monitor traffic violations and has revolutionized traffic management in the country. This system ensures that people stick to the rules as much as possible, whether traffic police are on the ground or not. The working process of e-challan is become contactless and can be understood in simple terms. 

Automated Monitoring

With the installation of CCTV cameras, all traffic activities are continuously monitored, recorded, and quickly detects for any violation of traffic rules. These activities are captured and then sent to the Traffic Control Room. 

Vehicle Information Extraction

The generated footage or pictures help to extract the vehicle information, and the fine is automatically calculated according to the type of violation and the Motor Vehicle Act of 1988. 

Collection of Contact Information

Once the vehicle information is detected, contact information like name, address, and contact number is collected from RTO or Vahan and Sarathi applications. On the contact information, the e-challan is sent via an SMS or email with proof of the violation. 

Payment of E-Challan

Once the violator receives the e-challan, they can pay the e-challan using online or offline. The online payment can be made from the official website or via the SMS link. Or one can directly visit the RTO to clear the penalty.

How to Check E-Challan Status?

Once you have received the information about the e-challan generated, you can check the status to be sure of the information and amount. The government has made it easier to track and check the status of e-challan. You can follow the mentioned steps to check the e-challan status online.

Step 1: Go to the official website of e-challan (https://echallan.parivahan.gov.in/)

Step 2: Click the “Check Online Services” tab and select “Check Challan Status”.

Step 3: Provide the required information from any of the given options of Challan Number, Vehicle Number, or DL Number.

Step 4: Enter the Captcha and click on “Get Detail”.

Step 5: Your e-challan status will be reflected on the screen.

How to Pay E-Challan? 

Once you get the e-challan details on the portal, pay the e-challan to avoid any legal crisis. The government allows violators to pay the e-challan online (Parivahan Sewa Website) and offline methods. Let’s understand the process in simple words

Online Process to Pay E-Challan

You can follow the given steps to make e-challan payment online.

Step 1: Go to the official website of Parivahan Sewa or your state’s transport department, and click on the “Pay Online” option available on the top bar.

Step 2: Enter the specified details by selecting Challan Number, Vehicle Number, or DL Number.

Step 3: Add the Captcha and enter the “Get Detail” option.

Step 4: Proceed to “Pay Now”.

Step 5: Select the “Type of Violation” option to pay the e-challan.

Step 6: Choose your preferred payment mode (Net Banking/ Debit Card/ Credit Card) to make the payment and complete the payment by entering the needed information.

Step 7: The details will be sent to your registered mobile number once the payment is made. Save the Transaction ID for future reference.

Offline Process to Pay E-Challan

Those who cannot pay the e-challan online can also pay the fine offline. Where the online process is simpler and does not require physical movement, you must visit the traffic office to pay offline. Follow the mentioned steps to pay the e-challan offline

Step 1: Go to the nearest Traffic Police Station with a traffic violation letter/ e-challan and driving license.

Step 2:  Ask the traffic officer (with an electric challan machine) to check all the dues to pay the fines at once.

Step 3: The traffic officer will check all your dues and tell you the required amount.

Step 4: You need to pay the bill in cash or online. 

Step 5: Don’t forget to get the receipt.

What if I Don’t Pay E-Challan?

Violating laws is unacceptable, and you will have to face further consequences. If, in any case, you are not able to make e-challan payment online or offline. The court sends a summon to your permanent/residential address. Now, you must visit the court and state the valid reasons for not following the traffic rules. If you still fail to visit the court, your driving license will be temporarily suspended. We advise you to make an e-challan payment as soon as you receive the e-challan. 

What to Do if You Got a Wrong E-Challan?

No matter how efficient the technological systems are, errors are possible everywhere. Though the cameras are adequate to capture the vehicle number, sometimes you may need help finding that a wrong e-challan has been issued to you by mistake. If you are stuck in this situation, you can follow these steps to fix the spot.

Step 1: Collect the evidence of your innocence to raise a complaint.

Step 2: Contact the Traffic Police Helpline Number 0120-2459171 between 6:00 am to 10:00 pm or email helpdesk_echallan@gov.in to inform them about the wrong e-challan.

Step 3: They will verify the claim and revert back to you within 15 days.

Using the Official Parivahan Sewa Website

The government has made filing and solving your issues easy using the official Parivahan Sewa website. With the Grievance System available on the website, you can directly submit your traffic grievance online by following the below steps

Step 1: Go to the official Parivahan Sewa Website and click on the “Complaint” option available on the top bar.

Step 2: Submit the required details and description of your complaint.

Step 3: Finally, “Submit” the complaint after checking all the information you submitted is true. 

Step 4: You can check the status of your complaint here anytime. 

How is E-Challan Easing Traffic Law Enforcement?

Undoubtedly, enforcing the e-challan system in India has eased up the traffic system and made the processes more efficient and transparent. People are much more aware of the laws to avoid the penalties. Let us highlight how the e-challan system is easing Traffic Law Enforcement.

• Easy traffic management system that results in minimizing road traffic and accidents.
• The automated e-challan system ensures transparency, data reliability, and records maintenance.
• Eradicate the bribery and other corrupt practices that filter the law management system and minimize revenue loss.
• Saves time and effort.
• With driving records, insurance companies can tailor their policies and plans.

How Can You Avoid E-Challan?

The only simple way to avoid e-challan is to follow traffic laws. The Government of India passed the Motor Vehicle Act 1988 to ensure safe driving practices on the road. Hence, you can follow these rules to avoid e-challan. 

• Always wear a belt or helmet while driving.
• Always drive on the left and let other vehicles pass through the right.
• Overtake a vehicle from the right side of the lane after they give you the way.
• Use indicators to notify other vehicles about your turns and avoid overspeeding.
• Stop before the red light when the traffic light turns red.
• Follow traffic signals, sign boards, lane markings, speed limits, and parking regulations.
• Ensure you have all necessary documents with you, like license, insurance papers, pollution papers, and others.
• Don’t use your mobile phone while driving. 
• Keep your vehicle fit and properly maintained (like horns, breaks, lights, and others).
• Never drive while you are drunk or under the influence of a drug, as it is a serious offence.

Conclusion

After discussing the efficient transitions that e-challan has brought to the country, it is proven that it is only for extending our safety on roads. While traffic rules ensure the physical safety of an individual, motor insurance promises financial steadiness. It would help if you carried comprehensive motor insurance to ensure your vehicle is always in adequate condition. To reduce the premium cost of insurance, your e-challan counts should be as minimum as possible. 

Looking for comprehensive motor insurance? Buy one with an expert at RenewBuy. 

FAQ of E-Challan

Question: What if I don’t pay challan?
Answer: If you do not pay your challan on the spot or even don’t pay it online within the due date, it reaches the court to make the settlement. In case you still do not pay the challan within the date, the court orders you to summon and listen to the valid reason for not paying the e-challan.

Question: Why my challan payment status is still pending after payment?
Answer: If you have paid the e-challan and the payment status reflects pending mode, this means the bank is still processing the payment and will be updated in pre-determined working days.

Question: How much time does it take to generate an e-challan?
Answer: If a vehicle is found violating the traffic rules, then an e-challan will be generated within 15 days. 

Question: How long is an e-challan valid in India?
Answer: The e-challan needs to be settled within 60 days from the date of the issuance. 

Question: Can a traffic police fine challan twice a day for the same reason?
Answer: No, traffic police can not fine you twice daily for the same offence until you don’t overspeed. But if you are driving interstate and your previous challan receipt is lost, then the state traffic police can fine you for the same offence committed again.

Question: What is the deadline to pay an e-challan after generation?
Answer: You can pay the e-challan within 60 days from the issue days. 

Question: Can I cancel the challan that I have received?
Answer: Yes, it is possible to raise a request to cancel the wrong e-challan that you have received. You can connect on the Traffic Police Helpline Number 0120-2459171 between 6:00 am to 10:00 pm or email helpdesk_echallan@gov.in with your cancel request and proofs available. Also, you can raise a ticket on the official Parvahan Sewa website to cancel the challan.

Question: Can I pay e-challan through UPI?
Answer: Yes, you can pay the e-challan using UPI. You just need to log in to the official website, and while choosing a payment method, select UPI to continue the payment.

Question: How many e-challans are allowed?
Answer: It only depends on the offences that you commit. For different offences, multiple challans can be fined at the same time.

Question: Can I download the reports of all my e-challan?
Answer: You can download the e-challan report using the official Parivahan Sewa website.