Latest news with #e-Challan
Hindustan Times
28-04-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Chandigarh: Soon, e-Naka app to catch crime in motion
Soon, every vehicle passing through a police naka in Chandigarh will be scanned and recorded digitally. With the launch of the e-Naka app, Chandigarh Police will monitor nakas in real time — from the start and closure timings of each checkpoint, to the number of vehicles inspected. The e-Naka app is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing platforms like e-Challan, e-Vahan, and e-Sarthi, and help officers to instantly access key vehicle details, including ownership information, pending violations, and whether the vehicle has been flagged as stolen. All vehicles will be required to have their number plates scanned at nakas. As soon as the plate is scanned, the system will pull up a detailed history of the vehicle. If a vehicle has any pending challans or is connected to any criminal activity, the app will automatically flag it, allowing officers to take immediate action. Another crucial feature of the app is its ability to log every vehicle checked at nakas, along with the driver's credentials and the actions taken. The app also keeps a digital record of officers' attendance, including their reporting times and how long they spend at each naka, helping to improve accountability and reduce any chances of corruption or negligence. With the full integration of the e-Challan system, officers will be able to issue fines on the spot for any violations detected during a check. 'The e-Naka application is currently in its trial phase. The system is designed to make nakas smarter, more efficient, and harder for criminals to bypass. We anticipate its official launch soon,' Kanwardeep Kaur, senior superintendent of police (SSP), Chandigarh.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Time of India
No CCTVs at accident-prone spots despite Punjab CM's nod
Chandigarh: Even as Punjab continues to witness high road fatalities — averaging 13 deaths a day — the state failed to move swiftly on implementing electronic monitoring systems in its most accident-prone districts, despite having a dedicated budget. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now As many as 4,829 people died in road accidents across Punjab in 2023 alone, with overspeeding accounting for a large portion of these fatalities. Five districts—Patiala (466), Rupnagar (211), Mohali (321), Nawanshahr (332), and Fatehgarh Sahib (149)—together recorded 1,479 deaths, making up over 30% of the state's total road accident deaths. Alarmingly, districts like Rupnagar and Mohali registered fatality rates 1.5 to 2 times higher than the state average of 147 deaths per million population. In an effort to curb high road fatalities, a high-level meeting chaired by chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Oct 13, 2023, approved the installation of CCTV systems in "Red Zone" districts for real-time traffic monitoring, violation deterrence, and improved enforcement. The transport department was assigned the responsibility to execute the project in coordination with relevant stakeholders. Subsequently, the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) drafted a Request for Proposal (RFP) for hiring a consultant, which was reviewed in detail during a meeting on January 4, 2024, chaired by the Administrative Secretary of the Transport Department along with the ADGP (Traffic) and Punjab Police's Traffic Advisor. The project was also reviewed in the 15th meeting of the Punjab State Road Safety Council (PSRSC), where it was reaffirmed that the transport department would lead the implementation with support from Smart City Chandigarh Ltd and PIDB. However, despite administrative discussions and groundwork, the project remains stuck. A file submitted by the Lead Agency on November 14, 2024, to the Additional Chief Secretary, Transport, was returned with comments but little progress. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This, despite the availability of Rs 15 crore under the "Machinery and Equipment" budget for the financial year 2024–25. During a meeting held on Feb 14, 2025, the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety (SCCoRS) recommended that Punjab consider adopting the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model—successfully implemented in states like Kerala and Maharashtra—for the CCTV-based electronic monitoring and enforcement system. The state has also been asked to ensure that the CCTV network is integrated with systems such as e-Challan, body-worn cameras, and speed radars, and that the compounding of traffic offences is streamlined through this integrated setup. The PSRSC will review the stalled project in its 16th meeting scheduled to be held on April 23. R Venkat Ratnam, Director General of the Punjab State Road Safety Council's Lead Agency, confirmed that while the Transport Department is responsible for the project, it was not implemented in the last financial year. However, he expressed optimism that the initiative will move forward in the coming months. 'Procure new ambulances' The Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety directed the Punjab govt to ensure that all condemned and over 15-year-old ambulances are scrapped in accordance with existing govt policy. The committee further advised that the state health department procure new ambulances, including Advanced Life Support (ALS) vehicles, to strengthen emergency care services. The health department has been asked to coordinate with the Director General of the Lead Agency (DGLA), Punjab State Road Safety Council, to take necessary action on the matter.
