Gujarat motorists paid over ₹1,400 crore traffic challan in 19 years

Motorists in Gujarat have paid over ₹1,400 crore in traffic fines in 19 years, even as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has flagged a 16% shortfall between fines collected and amounts transferred to the designated road safety fund.

As per the latest CAG report on the state’s financial position for 2024-25, traffic fines amounting to ₹1,474.98 crore were collected in 19 years from 2006-07 to 2024-25, against a budget estimate of ₹1,614.02 crore.

The report noted that more than ₹1,400 crore was collected between 2007 and 2025. However, collections in the initial years were significantly lower than estimates, with only ₹0.02 crore realised in both 2007-08 and 2008-09 against projected revenues of ₹8 crore and ₹4 crore, respectively. In 2006-07, collections stood at ₹4.23 crore against an estimate of ₹6 crore.

The CAG said the variations highlight the need to examine the reasons behind lower realisations in certain years despite rising enforcement over time.

As per the report, the state government had resolved on July 1, 2000, to credit a portion of traffic fine revenue collected from urban areas to the Gujarat State Road Safety Fund to support traffic management initiatives.

Subsequently, a Personal Deposit Account (PLA) was opened in March 2004 in Gandhinagar, in the name of the Director General and Inspector General of Police, for the management of the fund. In July 2006, the government decided to transfer 100% of traffic fine collections to the PLA.

However, scrutiny of budget estimates and appropriation accounts for the period 2006-07 to 2024-25 revealed a 16% gap between fines collected and the amount transferred to the PLA.

The report stated that against a budget estimate of ₹1,186.06 crore for transfer to the PLA, collections stood at ₹1,246.21 crore, of which ₹84.48 crore was not credited as required. An amount of ₹87.91 crore remains pending for transfer, it added.