Delhi Traffic Police launches app for commuters

New Delhi: Don't have enough cash to pay traffic challan? Well, the excuse will no longer help you dodge the fine as Delhi Traffic Police is soon going to upgrade its hand-held e-challan device which will accept money through debit and credit card. “A proposal in this regard has been approved and very soon we would be able to accept challan through debit and credit card on the spot,” a senior police official has said. The e-challan scheme was rolled out last year under which the hand-held device replaced the challan book used by traffic police personnel earlier. Now, the e-challan is issued on the spot with these devices. However, as of now, offenders can only pay in cash. Currently, the traffic police here have around 1,200 such hand-held devices. On an average, around 12,000 challans are issued in Delhi everyday. “We are waiting for the service providing company to make the devices adaptable so that debit and credit cards can be swiped on them and money can be transferred,” the official said. This will be another feather in the cap of Delhi Traffic Police which had on Thursday launched a mobile application through which commuters can get instant traffic updates, calculate taxi and auto fares, report defunct traffic signals and fetch all related information right on their smartphones. The mobile App and an upgraded website of the force were launched by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung. The new mobile application is currently available on Android phones and can easily be downloaded from Google Play Store. It will be soon available on Windows and Apple Store. The App is currently available on Android phones and can easily be downloaded from Google Play Store. It will be soon available on Windows and Apple Store. This application will enable the public to utilise the e-services provided by Delhi Traffic Police like obtaining information about traffic alerts and advisories to plan the journeys accordingly, in advance. People can assess fare charges to be paid to auto/Taxi /Radio Cab drivers, calculation of distance travelled and shortest route to be taken for destined journey in Delhi. Complaints can be lodged against TSR/Taxi drivers for misbehaviour, refusal and overcharging.Commuters can also access information about pit for vehicles towed away by Traffic Police when parked unauthorisedly or improperly. Direct calls could be made to Emergency Numbers.