Panaji: In a drive aimed at tightening road safety, the Directorate of Transport’s enforcement wings based in Panaji and Margao have issued a staggering 2,25,503 challans over a three-year period ending March 31, 2025.
The action has resulted in fines amounting to Rs 17.56 crore being collected from erring vehicle owners and drivers. However, an amount of Rs 13.20 crore in the form of penalty is pending recovery, pointing towards a gap in follow-up by the enforcement wings.
According to details tabled in the state legislative assembly by Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho in response to an unstarred question by Velim MLA Cruz Silva, the Panaji enforcement wing issued 1,92,560 challans and collected Rs 12.81 crore as penalty. The year-wise data shows a sharp rise in violations. In 2022-23, the wing issued 6,808 challans, collecting Rs 1.49 crore. The number jumped significantly in 2023-24, with 78,681 challans issued and the amount collected in the form of fines being Rs 5.59 crore. The spike continued in 2024-25 with 1,07,071 challans issued and Rs 5.71 crore recovered.
This was against the Rs 12.78 crore levied, leaving Rs 7.06 crore yet to be collected for the year.
Meanwhile, the Margao enforcement wing issued 32,943 challans over the three-year period and collected Rs 4.75 crore. Of the Rs 1.83 crore levied in fines in 2022-23, Rs 1.46 crore was recovered. In 2023-24, Rs 2.86 crore was imposed, and Rs 1.93 crore collected, while in 2024-25, Rs 1.35 crore was recovered against the Rs 2.68 crore levied, with more than Rs 1.33 crore pending recovery.
The most common offences reported include general violations under Section 177, driving uninsured vehicles and operating vehicles without a valid fitness certificate under Section 192(d). Other frequent violations include failure to wear helmet or seat belt, use of handheld devices while driving and disregard for traffic signals and signage.
