Mumbai-Pune Expressway Drivers Fined ₹270 Crore—But 90% Unpaid, Many Claim Wrong Penalties!
Automated Traffic System Penalizes 27 Lakh Violators, But Most Fines Remain Unpaid
Pune: In a bold move to curb reckless driving, the Mumbai-Pune Expressway’s Intelligent Traffic Management System (ITMS) has issued fines totaling ₹270.47 crore to 27 lakh vehicle owners in just one year. However, authorities report that only a fraction—around ₹30 crore—has been recovered, leaving a staggering ₹250 crore in pending penalties.
ITMS Crackdown: A Year of Enforcement
Implemented on July 19, 2024, the ITMS was introduced to tackle speeding, traffic violations, and accidents on the expressway. The system enforces strict speed limits:
- Light vehicles: Max 100 km/h
- Heavy vehicles: Max 80 km/h
- Ghat sections & sharp turns: Heavy vehicles restricted to 40 km/h
Additionally, seatbelt violations, mobile phone usage while driving, wrong-side driving, and illegal parking are penalized through e-challans sent to offenders’ registered mobile numbers.
Low Recovery, Stricter Measures Ahead
Despite issuing 27 lakh e-challans, only 1.6 lakh vehicle owners have paid their fines voluntarily. To recover the massive backlog, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Regional Transport Office (RTO) has now shared defaulters’ lists with local RTOs, empowering them to enforce collections at the grassroots level.
Sandesha Chavan, Deputy Regional Transport Officer, stated, “Persistent violators with high penalty amounts will face stricter recovery measures. Local RTOs will now ensure fines are collected efficiently.”
Common Violations & Penalties
The ITMS targets:
- Over-speeding
- Overloaded trucks
- Driving without seatbelts
- Using mobile phones while driving
- Wrong-side driving & illegal parking
With unpaid fines piling up, authorities are stepping up efforts to ensure compliance, making the Mumbai-Pune Expressway safer for all commuters.
