Shillong traffic cops to go digital

Traffic violators to be E-challaned in collaboration with a private bank, POS machines to be used to collect fines

From A Reporter

SHILLONG, Sept 13: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Shillong Traffic Police is contemplating to start compounding traffic violators in the city through E-challans in collaboration with a leading private bank.

Speaking to a couple of reporters in the city on Wednesday, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police (SP) Davis Marak said, “Such initiatives have been implemented in other parts of the country and in our State we are currently in the conceptualization stage.”

To make the initiative a reality, the SP informed the media that the matter is being discussed with the bank. “If this is implemented, then it would bring much more transparency in the entire process of traffic cops compounding traffic violators in the city,” he said.

“As we go digital, allegations of traffic cops over-charging and indulging in corruption can be elimited and there will be more transparency as people will know they are being charged under which section and how much they are being charged,” Marak explained.

The SP further stated that the entire process would be computerised and police will be able to monitor the entire instances of compounding online.

The traffic police have asked for point of sale (POS) devices for swiping of ATM cards that will be linked to banks through mobile and, eventually, mobile challans will be generated.

Initially, the private bank is scheduled to give 30 POS devices to the Shillong Traffic Police and each traffic branch will be given three to four POS machines.

He said, “The POS machines will also have to be linked to mobile phones belonging to the traffic personnel. Besides, for the project to be rolled out, the bank will have to design MIS software that is compatible, and through the software the police will have all the details of the compounding done by the traffic sleuths.” The Shillong Traffic Police and the private bank will have more deliberations on the matter.