Wednesday, Sep 03, 2025 21:00 [IST]
Last Update: Tuesday, Sep 02, 2025 15:30 [IST]
GANGTOK,: The Transport department, Government of Sikkim, has extended the one-time settlement scheme under the AI-driven Traffic Management System by 15 days, providing vehicle owners additional time to clear their pending fines. The scheme, which had closed on August 31, will now remain valid until September 15, 2025, according to a notification issued on Monday.
The initiative offers violators the option of clearing their dues at 50 per cent of the total penalty or Rs 20,000, whichever is lower. The scheme was first notified in July and aimed at easing the burden on vehicle owners while encouraging compliance with traffic rules.
However, sources in the Motor Vehicle Division under Transport department revealed that the collection drive has faced several hurdles. Only around 25 per cent of fines generated were reportedly recovered during the August window. Officials cited outdated mobile numbers, non-updated ownership records, and incomplete addresses as major reasons for the lapses. In many cases, challan notifications were sent to previous owners who had already sold their vehicles, while others could not be traced due to vague or duplicate registrations.
The issue of common names without proper house numbers—such as multiple entries for a similar name—also complicated the process. “You cannot always put the blame on the citizens. The system itself needs to be more robust and accurate,” a Motor Vehicle Division official said on condition of anonymity.
The meeting of the Transport and Motor Vehicle Division officials concluded that a more reliable mechanism must be developed, linking registrations to Aadhaar and verified mobile numbers for accurate identification. A report on the shortcomings and suggested reforms will be submitted to the Chief Minister, who also holds the Transport portfolio.
With the deadline now extended, the government hopes to boost compliance and recover a larger share of pending fines before the new cut-off date of September 15.
