Goa’s new AI-powered traffic enforce ment system has already caught motorists flouting road rules on a large scale, with nearly 2,500 challans generated in the first nine days of automated surveil lance across the State. The cameras, installed by the Transport Depart ment at 26 locations and made operational from Au gust 1, detected an average of nearly 275 violations a day, with the number of offences rising sharply towards the weekend. As many as 574 challans were generated on August 8 and another 575 on August 9 — the highest daily figures recorded since the system was introduced. The surge is in stark contrast to the early days of the system. The depart ment recorded 23 chal lans on August 1 and 116 on August 2, before the figure jumped to 455 on August 3. It subsequently recorded 313 on August 4, 183 on August 5 and just 21 on August 6, before violations rose again to 208 on August 7. While the automated enforcement captures all road violations, the ones being challaned at the moment include riding two-wheelers without helmets, triple riding, using mobile phones while driving, driving cars without seat belts and operating vehicles without valid insurance.
The volume of violations being detected within days of the cameras becoming operational also points to the extent to which routine traffic violations continue despite existing enforcement measures. Director of Transport Arvind B Khutkar said the automated challans would be issued in the name of the registered vehicle owner. The notice will carry details of the offence and will normally be delivered through SMS, WhatsApp or email within three days. Where electronic delivery is not possible, the notice will be sent physically to the address recorded in the VAHAN database within 15 days. The system is also designed to make ignoring a challan more difficult. Vehicle owners have 45 days from the date of issue to either pay the fine or contest it before the State government’s Grievance Redressal Authority. A person contest ing a challan will have to submit documentary evidence through the designated portal. If the challan is not contested within 45 days, it will be treated as deemed accepted, after which the vehicle owner gets another 30 days to make the pay ment, Khutkar said.
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The consequences can extend beyond the fine itself. An unpaid deemed-ac cepted challan can affect the processing of applications relating to a driving li cence or vehicle registration, except applications concerning payment of motor vehicle taxes. The vehicle can also be flagged on the portal as “Not to be trans acted” until the outstanding challan is cleared. The department will send electronic reminders beginning 15 days before the payment deadline, Khutkar said. The AI system is also intended to go beyond issuing individual fines by build ing a record of repeat violations. Motorists crossing a prescribed threshold within a specified period could face enhanced penalties and mandatory refresh er training. Those found indulging in reckless or dangerous driving may also be referred for psychological assessment and counselling. With the cameras now operating continuously, the first nine days provide an early indication of how automated enforcement could change traffic policing in Goa.
