Mumbai: Transporters Call For Overhaul Of E-Challan System, Demand Greater Transparency In Governance

Raising the alarm over alleged misuse and systemic flaws in the E-Challan enforcement mechanism, Bal Malkit Singh, Advisor and Former President of the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), has formally submitted a detailed list of demands and reform suggestions to the Chairman of High-Level Committee formed by the Government of Maharashtra to address transport sector grievances.

About The Committee

The committee, chaired by Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar, was constituted to examine and resolve critical issues affecting the state’s transport sector. Singh, representing the interests of Maharashtra’s transport community, is also a member of this panel.

At the heart of Singh’s submission is a call for a complete overhaul of the E-Challan system, which he termed as arbitrary, opaque, and detrimental to thousands of commercial drivers and fleet operators across the state. The submission documents widespread instances of challans being issued without legal backing or proper documentation, causing undue financial and operational stress on transporters.

“The transport sector is the backbone of our economy,” said Singh. “Misuse of the E-Challan system not only threatens the livelihood of lakhs of drivers and operators but also undermines trust in governance. We appeal to the Government of Maharashtra to take immediate corrective measures in the interest of fairness, legality, and operational efficiency.”

About Bal Malkit Singh's Demands

Bal Malkit Singh’s key demands include an immediate halt to mobile-based enforcement and roadside fine collection, along with disabling the mobile upload feature on the MahaTraffic App to prevent misuse. He has also called for a ban on manual fine collection by stopping vehicles in transit, citing it as a major cause of harassment. Singh strongly advocates for the withdrawal or waiver of unverifiable and arbitrary challans and has urged the government to introduce an amnesty scheme for flawed cases issued in the past.

To ensure transparency, he demands the publication of the High-Level Committee’s final report and insists that all prior stakeholder communications be annexed and considered in the final recommendations. He has also highlighted the need to end field-level harassment by enforcement personnel, who are often seen prioritizing revenue generation over lawful regulation. Singh further stressed the creation of dedicated parking zones for heavy vehicles in urban areas, along with the resolution of long-pending issues such as the HMV Cleaner Issue and a lack of coordination between departments.

As part of a broader roadmap for reform, Singh proposed a digital audit of all past challans using AI-based tools to identify flawed or duplicate entries. He emphasized the need for an independent grievance redressal mechanism with time-bound resolution for E-Challan disputes, and called for the implementation of a uniform legal framework across all districts to prevent arbitrary enforcement.

Additionally, he recommended the training and sensitization of enforcement officers to ensure they act lawfully and respectfully in the field. Lastly, Singh called for the reconstitution of the High-Level Committee to include broader industry representation and to establish a platform for continuous dialogue between the government and stakeholders.

The High-Level Committee is expected to release its final report in the coming weeks. Singh have urged the state government to prioritize the rollback of erroneous challans and institutionalize reforms that promote fairness, transparency, and operational efficiency in transport regulation.

“A report without these corrective measures will only dilute public confidence and continue the cycle of harassment,” Singh concluded.