Gujarat has accumulated ₹1,607.64 crore in unpaid e-challans since 2021, making it the seventh-highest state in India for pending traffic penalties.
The figures, presented in the Rajya Sabha by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways using data from the National Informatics Centre’s (NIC) e-Challan system, show that only six states have a higher amount of unpaid traffic fines between January 1, 2021, and July 30, 2026.
The data highlights the rapid growth of digital traffic enforcement in Gujarat while also exposing the challenge authorities face in recovering unpaid penalties.
Gujarat Among the Top States for Pending Traffic Fines
According to the data, Uttar Pradesh tops the list with over ₹11,331 crore in unpaid e-challans. It is followed by:
Delhi – ₹11,097.07 crore
Tamil Nadu – ₹3,601.76 crore
Haryana – ₹2,620.53 crore
Odisha – ₹2,167.52 crore
Rajasthan – ₹2,066.91 crore
With ₹1,607.64 crore in pending fines, Gujarat ranks seventh in the country.
The ministry’s data also shows that Gujarat did not issue any e-challans through the national portal in 2021, as enforcement under the system began only in 2022.
Nearly Two Crore E-Challans Issued
Since joining the national e-Challan system, Gujarat has issued nearly 1.99 crore e-challans. The pace of enforcement has increased sharply over the past few years.
2022: 2.85 lakh e-challans issued
2023: 16.05 lakh
2024: 43.25 lakh
2025: 85.74 lakh
2026 (up to July 30): 51.52 lakh
In total, authorities have issued 199.41 lakh (nearly 2 crore) e-challans through the national portal. This rapid rise has also pushed Gujarat to fifth place in India in terms of the total number of e-challans issued.
Unpaid Challans Continue to Rise
The amount of unpaid penalties has also grown year after year. According to the data:
2021: ₹29.05 crore
2022: ₹40.42 crore
2023: ₹123.22 crore
2024: ₹276.28 crore
2025: ₹645.35 crore
2026 (up to July 30): ₹493.32 crore
Together, these unpaid fines total ₹1,607.64 crore.
Thousands of Challans Issued Every Day
The figures show how widely digital traffic enforcement has expanded across Gujarat. In 2026 alone, authorities have been issuing an average of:
About 24,500 e-challans every day
Around 1,020 every hour
Nearly 17 every minute
These numbers reflect the increasing use of cameras and automated traffic monitoring systems to detect violations across the state.
Why Recovery of Fines Remains Difficult
Despite the large number of challans being issued, recovering the penalty amount remains a major challenge.
Traffic department officials say that only a small percentage of motorists pay their e-challans soon after receiving them.
According to a senior traffic official, only around 15% of vehicle owners regularly check and clear their pending e-challans to avoid future problems. Most people pay only after receiving a court notice or when legal action begins.
Outdated Vehicle Records Add to the Problem
Officials also attribute many unpaid challans to outdated vehicle registration records. In many cases, a vehicle remains registered at an old address even after the owner has moved elsewhere.
As a result, many vehicle owners become aware of pending challans only when they visit their old registered address or native place, delaying payment.
Common Traffic Violations
Traffic police say that two violations account for a large share of e-challans issued in Gujarat:
Crossing the stop line at traffic signals.
Riding a two-wheeler without wearing a helmet.
Authorities continue to encourage motorists to follow traffic rules to avoid penalties and improve road safety.
New Rules Make Timely Payment More Important
The Central Government has also strengthened the legal framework for e-challans through the Central Motor Vehicles (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026. The amended rules lay down timelines for issuing, contesting and paying electronic challans.
They also empower authorities to withhold certain vehicle-related and driving licence-related services until pending challans are cleared.
In addition, drivers who commit five or more traffic offences in a calendar year may face disqualification of their driving licence under the amended rules.
Digital Enforcement Expands, But Compliance Must Improve
The latest data shows that Gujarat has rapidly expanded its digital traffic enforcement system, issuing nearly two crore e-challans in just a few years.
However, the growing pile of unpaid penalties—now exceeding ₹1,600 crore—shows that while enforcement has become more effective, ensuring timely payment and updating vehicle records remain major challenges.
Officials are urging motorists to regularly check their pending e-challans, update their registration details and clear fines on time to avoid legal action and future inconvenience.
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