The Maharashtra government is set to introduce an amnesty scheme to address the issue of pending traffic challans. The scheme will allow vehicle owners to settle their outstanding challans through a one-time settlement. The move is aimed at reducing the backlog of unpaid traffic fines across the state, which has accumulated to over ₹2,500 crore, with Mumbai alone accounting for over ₹1,000 crore of dues.
The government is seriously evaluating the proposal, which is expected to generate additional revenue for the state. Official figures show that approximately ₹1,817 crore in e-challans were pending in Mumbai, with only ₹817 crore recovered to date. The government is seeking new methods to recover the remaining ₹1,000 crore. Although the official launch date is yet to be confirmed, the scheme is anticipated to be implemented in the coming months after receiving approval.
The scheme proposes significant relief for owners of smaller vehicles, such as two-wheelers and three-wheelers. They could be required to pay just 25% of their outstanding challans, with the remaining 75% waived. A 50% discount could be offered to those who pay their challans within 15 days, encouraging prompt payments.
Owners of luxury vehicles will not receive the same level of relief. The government might create various discount categories based on the type and value of the vehicle to ensure a fair recovery of dues and maximize revenue. Earlier attempts to recover dues through Lok Adalats, which offered up to a 50% discount, saw low participation. The new one-time settlement scheme is expected to be more appealing, providing relief to the general public.
