The Maharashtra government is planning an amnesty scheme to help clear the backlog of pending traffic challans. The scheme will enable vehicle owners to settle their old traffic challans via a one-time settlement. This initiative is designed to reduce the state’s outstanding traffic fines, which currently exceed ₹2,500 crore. Mumbai alone accounts for over ₹1,000 crore of this total.
The government is considering this proposal seriously, and it is expected to boost state revenue. According to official data, approximately ₹1,817 crore in e-challans were pending in Mumbai, with only ₹817 crore recovered so far. The government wants to use new methods to recover the remaining ₹1,000 crore. The official launch date is pending, but implementation is expected in the coming months, following approval.
The scheme may offer considerable relief to owners of two-wheelers and three-wheelers. They might only need to pay 25% of their outstanding challans, with the remaining 75% waived. Moreover, those who pay their challans within 15 days of receiving them may get a 50% discount. This could encourage people to pay their challans on time.
Owners of luxury vehicles won’t get the same level of relief. The government may create various discount categories based on the type and value of the vehicle to ensure fair recovery and maximize revenue. Earlier efforts to recover dues through Lok Adalats, which offered up to a 50% discount, didn’t attract many participants. The new one-time settlement scheme could attract more people and provide relief to the general public.