Traffic rules and fines in Kolkata: How to pay e-challan online

Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal, is one of the most modern yet culturally rich cities in the country. Visitors from all across the globe come here to witness the colonial architecture and cultural festivals every year.

Moreover, the city is known for its bustling streets and busy traffic, despite its dense network of tram and metro transit systems. Thankfully, the Traffic Police department has adopted modern methods to impose traffic management laws in Kolkata. The e-challan system is one of the successful ways authorities ensure a secure traffic flow in the city.

In this article, you will learn to pay a Kolkata Police traffic fine online through the e-challan system.

How does the Traffic Police levy the e-challan in Kolkata?

The e-challan system provides a digital system for the Traffic Police to impose challans. An officer can send an e-challan to the offender’s registered mobile number via SMS. The offender can find details of the offence and associated fine in the received message.

Once received an e-challan, an offender must pay the required fine within the next 60 days. Both offline and online methods are available to pay a Kolkata traffic fine. But first, one must understand the rules and regulations of traffic movement in this city.

The latest traffic rules and regulations in Kolkata

The State and Central Governments have defined various regulations to prevent and punish traffic violations. Here is a list of traffic rules and violations you must understand in Kolkata. 

Driving at excessive speed

Overspeeding can cause serious accidents, which makes it a serious violation. The Traffic Police expects every citizen to drive below the maximum speed limits. An overspeeding driver must pay a fine of Rs. 400 when caught. This penalty goes up to Rs. 1,000 for the second offence. 

Driving without a valid DL or Driving Licence

If a driver fails to produce a valid driving licence when demanded by a traffic officer, the fine is Rs. 100 for the first offence. Not producing the DL the second time can result in Rs. 300 of penalty.

On the other hand, a vehicle owner can’t allow a person without DL to drive the vehicle. The fine for letting a person without DL drive is Rs. 1,000. 

Driving without vehicle registration

Driving any motor vehicle without registration in Kolkata invites a heavy fine. If caught, the person has to pay a penalty of Rs. 5,000, which is for the first offence only. The penalty for the second offence increases to Rs. 10,000. 

Violating air/noise pollution standards

There are well-defined air and noise pollution standards prescribed for vehicles in Kolkata. If a vehicle doesn’t comply with the air or noise pollution standards, the driver must pay a penalty of Rs. 1,000. For the second violation of air or noise pollution standards, the fine increases to Rs. 2,000. 

Drunken driving 

A person driving a vehicle, under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs, puts himself and other people in danger. It is a serious traffic violation punishable by Rs. 2,000 for the first offence. The subsequent offence invites a fine of Rs. 3,000. 

List of traffic fines as updated by Kolkata Police (West Bengal)

Below, you can find the Kolkata Police traffic fine for every violation.

Disclaimer: Every Kolkata traffic fine for associated violation is subject to amendments made by the State and Central Government. Visit the official Kolkata Traffic Police website to find an exhaustive list of the latest traffic offences and fines. 

How to pay your traffic fines in Kolkata?

After receiving an e-challan in Kolkata, you can opt for multiple methods to pay the penalty. There are both offline and online procedures available to make e-challan payments in West Bengal. 

Methods to pay traffic challan offline in Kolkata

Below are the offline methods for e-challan payment in Kolkata.

• Method 1: Approach a traffic officer in Kolkata who has an e-challan device. Provide your challan number, DL number or vehicle registration number to the officer. Pay the required fine for the challan and get your receipt.

• Method 2: You can directly visit Kolkata Traffic Police Headquarters in the city to make a cash payment for your e-challan.

• Method 3: You can also use the facilities like pay order, demand draft, or cheque and send it via mail to the official address of Kolkata Traffic Police Headquarters.

Steps to pay traffic challan online in Kolkata

There are several methods for Kolkata traffic police fine payment online as well. You can visit the official websites of Kolkata Traffic Police, West Bengal Traffic Police, or the Parivahan portal to pay for an e-challan.

Via Kolkata Traffic Police website

• Step 1: Visit the Kolkata Traffic Police website.

• Step 2: Click on ‘Make Online Payment’.

• Step 3: Fill in your vehicle number and final five digits of the chassis number.

• Step 4: Enter your mobile number and email address.

• Step 5: Click on ‘Get OTP’ and enter the OTP for verification.

• Step 6: On the next screen, click on ‘Confirm’ to see e-challan details.

• Step 7: Select one or multiple e-challans to submit your payment.

• Step 8: Fill in your payment details to pay the amount.

Via West Bengal Traffic Police website

• Step 1: Visit West Bengal Traffic Police website.

• Step 2: Click on the option called ‘Online Payment for Traffic Fines’.

• Step 3: Fill in the details required in the GRIPS (Government Receipt Portal System) form.

• Step 4: Once redirected, select the drop-down menu ‘Select Department/Directorate’.

• Step 5: Select ‘West Bengal Police’.

• Step 6: Click on the drop-down menu ‘Select Service’, then, select ‘Police - Traffic Fine’.

• Step 7: Click on ‘Proceed’.

• Step 8: Fill in all necessary information and follow the given instructions to successfully pay the fine amount.

Via Parivahan e-Challan website

• Step 1: Visit the Parivahan e-Challan website.

• Step 2: Click on ‘Check Online Services’ and select ‘Check Challan Status’.

• Step 3: Enter the challan number, Driving Licence number or Registration number.

• Step 4: Carefully fill in the Captcha code as given on your screen.

• Step 5: Click on ‘Get Detail’ to obtain your challan details.

• Step 6: Select one or more challans for payment completion.

• Step 7: Provide payment details and pay the required amount. 

How to check your traffic e-challan status online in Kolkata?

To check the status of your Kolkata e-challan online, you can follow the steps mentioned below.

• Step 1: Visit the Parivahan e-Challan portal.

• Step 2: Select the drop-down menu ‘Check Online Services’.

• Step 3: Click on ‘ Check Challan Status’.

• Step 4: Provide your challan, DL or vehicle number.

• Step 5: Enter the visible Captcha code on your screen.

• Step 6: Click ‘Get Detail’ to obtain information related to every e-challan on your vehicle.

Frequently asked questions

Now, let’s have a look at commonly asked questions regarding traffic rules and e-challans in Kolkata.

What is the legally permissible duration to pay for an e-challan in Kolkata?

If you receive an e-challan for a traffic violation in Kolkata, you must pay it within the next 60 days. Failing to pay the fine may result in a court hearing. Not attending the court hearing can escalate the situation to the suspension of your driving licence.

What are the necessary documents to legally drive a vehicle in Kolkata?

A vehicle driver must carry several documents to legally drive a vehicle in Kolkata. Below is the list of required documents.

• Valid Registration Certificate for the vehicle

• Valid Driving Licence for the driver

• Valid Third-party Insurance Certificate for the vehicle

• Pollution Under Control Certificate for the vehicle

• Road Tax Payment Certificate 

When driving a commercial vehicle, a Fitness Certificate for the vehicle is also necessary along with other documents. You can carry the physical documents or produce the online copies via DigiLocker whenever asked by a traffic police authority while driving.

What is the penalty structure for driving an unregistered vehicle in Kolkata?

Driving a vehicle without registration is a serious traffic violation in Kolkata. When caught, this offence is punishable by a penalty of Rs. 5,000. However, this fine is for a first-time offence only. If a person gets caught for the same offence again, the fine increases to Rs. 10,000.

What if a driver enters a ‘no entry’ zone in Kolkata?

‘No entry’ violations in Kolkata are punishable with a hefty fine of Rs. 2,000 for the first offence. The second offence for the same attracts a fine of Rs. 5,000. Thus, drivers must be careful with the ‘no entry’ signs while driving in the city.

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