Traffic e-challans still depend on workforce
Police deploy 17 teams to receive outstanding fines from drivers
PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
The e-challan component of the Intelligent Traffic Management System developed after spending a large amount by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) is turning out to be dependent on foot soldiers for its execution.
For the third time since its launch in September 2018, the City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) have formed special teams to go after violators of rules for payment of fine.
The CTPL have formed 17 teams comprising of at least 34 traffic wardens that will be deployed on main roads of the city. Their job will not be maintaining traffic flow but to go after the defaulters of e-challans.
The step has been taken at least twice in the past also. In November 2018, 34 wardens were deployed for he task and a similar decision was taken in October last year.
The purpose of e-challan system was to minimise the need for personnel through an integrated computerised system.
However, it has proved to be dependent on the workforce at all levels of operation, whether identification of violators, dispatching tickets or recovery of fine.
The PSCA claimed that it would use an Automatic Number Plate Recognition Software (ANPR). In ANPR, the cameras read number plates of vehicles and automatically access the data of the violator from a database. Special number plates were to be used for the purpose but the Excise and Taxation Department has so far failed to issue them to the owners of vehicles.
To cover up the gap, staff were deputed at the PSCA Command and Control Centre to capture the pictures of those violating traffic laws through cameras installed on the roads. Another staff member copies the number from the registration plate and enters it to access the address from the database. Another employee is responsible to dispatch the e-challan to the address.
In other countries where the ANPR system is used, all these steps are automated. The moment a violation is made, a message is sent to the owner's phone number and a ticket is automatically generated and later sent to his home address.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2020.
The e-challan component of the Intelligent Traffic Management System developed after spending a large amount by the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) is turning out to be dependent on foot soldiers for its execution.
For the third time since its launch in September 2018, the City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) have formed special teams to go after violators of rules for payment of fine.
The CTPL have formed 17 teams comprising of at least 34 traffic wardens that will be deployed on main roads of the city. Their job will not be maintaining traffic flow but to go after the defaulters of e-challans.
The step has been taken at least twice in the past also. In November 2018, 34 wardens were deployed for he task and a similar decision was taken in October last year.
The purpose of e-challan system was to minimise the need for personnel through an integrated computerised system.
However, it has proved to be dependent on the workforce at all levels of operation, whether identification of violators, dispatching tickets or recovery of fine.
The PSCA claimed that it would use an Automatic Number Plate Recognition Software (ANPR). In ANPR, the cameras read number plates of vehicles and automatically access the data of the violator from a database. Special number plates were to be used for the purpose but the Excise and Taxation Department has so far failed to issue them to the owners of vehicles.
To cover up the gap, staff were deputed at the PSCA Command and Control Centre to capture the pictures of those violating traffic laws through cameras installed on the roads. Another staff member copies the number from the registration plate and enters it to access the address from the database. Another employee is responsible to dispatch the e-challan to the address.
In other countries where the ANPR system is used, all these steps are automated. The moment a violation is made, a message is sent to the owner's phone number and a ticket is automatically generated and later sent to his home address.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 26th, 2020.