Ahmedabad traffic police to launch dedicated e-challan help centre at Shahibaug

In a bid to streamline the resolution process for e-challan-related grievances, the Ahmedabad Traffic Police Department is set to launch a dedicated Sahayata Kendra (Help Centre) at the old Commissionerate office in Shahibaug. The initiative aims to provide a centralised facility to address public complaints regarding erroneous or disputed e-challan notices.

The centre, currently in its initial phase, is expected to become operational within the next couple of months. According to senior officials, the infrastructure is under development, and efforts are underway to procure necessary equipment and deploy a specialised team. Once operational, the centre will be manned by four to five technical officers solely tasked with addressing e-challan issues.

“At present, citizens have to approach the traffic control room for any such concerns, which lacks a structured mechanism for grievance redressal. The upcoming help centre will serve as a dedicated point of contact for all e-challan-related problems,” a senior traffic official said.

Once the centre is functional, officials aim to resolve complaints within 24 hours of registration. The move is expected to ease the process for thousands of vehicle owners in the city who often face challenges in navigating the existing system.

The centre will address the following issues—

• Delayed or non-receipt of notifications: Several vehicle owners have complained about not receiving SMS alerts for e-challans, resulting in missed payment deadlines and the imposition of penalties.
• Incorrect challan issuance: Instances of incorrect challans due to faulty number plate recognition by traffic cameras have been reported, leading to innocent owners being penalised.
• Payment-related issues: Users often face trouble with online payments, with some reporting unresolved challans even after completing transactions or difficulty accessing the system.
• Dispute resolution: The new centre aims to provide a smoother process for disputing wrongly issued challans, helping avoid legal hassles and prolonged delays.
• Technical glitches: The e-challan portal frequently faces server issues, affecting the overall user experience. These concerns will now be addressed more efficiently.

Fraudulent activities: With rising cases of fake e-challan websites and phishing links, the centre will also assist citizens who have been targeted by such fraud, helping prevent financial loss and misuse of personal information.

The initiative reflects the traffic department’s ongoing efforts to improve citizen services through digitisation and accountability. Authorities hope the Sahayata Kendra will bring much-needed transparency and efficiency to the e-challan process in Ahmedabad.