E-challan remains a pipe dream, devices not available

April 1, 2013

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E-challan remains a pipe dream, devices not available

NEW DELHI: After facing several technical shortcomings, the ambitious e-challan project of Delhi Police has now hit an administrative roadblock.

SAARTHAK AURORA/HT FILE1,200 hand-held devices for issuing e-challans are yet to be delivered by the vendor to the traffic police.

The result: the project — which was scheduled to be operational by March this year — has missed the deadline yet again.

During the annual press conference of Delhi Police in January this year, the traffic police had promised that e-challans would become partially operational in January and fully by March.

In January, the traffic police had initiated a trial by introducing some of the devices in Parliament Street area of Central Delhi. However, the gadgets developed a technical snag. Sources said the hand-held device, which was used to issue challans, encountered a problem while working in the sunlight.

According to sources, the vendor Airtel is not ready with 1200 e-challan devices and has sought more time for supplying the gadgets.

“We do not know when the project would successfully be implemented,” said Anil Shukla, additional commissioner of police (traffic).

‘’After the successful deployment of the pilot, we are determined to take all steps towards its successful implementation,’’ said a spokesperson of Airtel.

After running into several delays, the e-challan system had got the final nod of the state government in November. Following this, the traffic police were keen to formally launch the project by making 100 gadgets operational during the special drive against drunk driving on the eve of New Year in Central Delhi.

But the plan never materialised as the vendor was not ready with the devices.

As per the tender agreement, Airtel was to provide 1200 e-challan instruments to cover the entire city by March and also provide technical support for operating the instruments. With e-challan — an electronic format of the challan – becoming functional, there will be a record of all traffic violations against errant drivers and vehicles. This, the traffic police claims, will help initiate a new regime of better enforcement by having higher penalties for second and subsequent prosecutions and ensure point system for supervision and cancellation of driving licences.

Source : http://paper.hindustantimes.com/