This time the amount exceeds the annual fine collection of the past three years; of a total of 80,79,942 cases, of which 74,26,775 contactless, ₹1.41,40,21,420 was collected
This time the amount exceeds the annual fine collection of the past three years; of a total of 80,79,942 cases, of which 74,26,775 contactless, ₹1.41,40,21,420 was collected
At the end of September, the Bengaluru Traffic Police (BTP) collected more than ₹141 crore in fines this year. This time the amount is higher than the annual fine collection of the past three years, including the pre-pandemic year 2019. Of a total of 80,79,942 cases, of which 74,26,775 contactless, no less than ₹1.41 ,40,21,420 was collected until the end of September.
According to the data on the BTP website, fines have steadily increased in recent years. While more than ₹89 crore was collected in 2019, it was ₹99 crore in 2020. Even during the partial lockdown in 2021, the figures crossed the 100 crore mark and more than ₹140 crore were collected from traffic offenders.
The BTP often faces anger from citizens over its fine collection practices, with many arguing that the officials neglect traffic management and focus only on catching violators. However, Joint Commissioner, Traffic, BR Ravikanthe Gowda says this is not the case. Speaking to The Hindu, he said: “It’s not important to fine the offenders, but compliance is. If commuters follow the rules, we’re very happy. Our goal is not a nice collection at all.”
In what could be indicative of the effects of vehicle towing, parking-related offenses have also increased this year. The number of cases recorded for wrong parking, footpath parking and parked at intersections at the end of last month all exceeded the number of cases recorded in the full year for the same violations in the previous two years. A total of 8,27,671 cases of wrong parking were filed this year, 1,11,190 cases were recorded for pedestrian parking and 16,086 cases for intersection parking.
“There is an increase in parking violations, but we use wheel clamps for that,” said Mr Gowda. The police officers have also booked more than 4 lakh trespassing cases until September 30, 8,350 cases against HTVs driving on prohibited roads and 13,761 cases against those driving on footpaths.