Chandigarh: In a city known for its network of surveillance cameras and strict traffic enforcement, motorists continued to test the limits of the law at an astonishing rate. Between Jan and June this year, Chandigarh recorded over one traffic violation every minute, with police issuing more than 3 lakh challans and collecting Rs 4.6 crore in fines.Despite the presence of over 2,000 CCTV cameras keeping watch at major intersections, traffic rule violations remained rampant. Data from the Chandigarh traffic police showed that red-light jumping topped the list of offences, followed by speeding—the two violations that continue to be among the leading causes of road accidents.Of the 3.05 lakh challans issued during the six-month period, a staggering 1,80,391 were for jumping red lights. Another 48,945 motorists were penalised for overspeeding, while 48,728 were booked for crossing stop lines at zebra crossings.The enforcement net also caught 1,166 people driving under the influence of alcohol. Helmet violations remained common, with 9,195 two-wheeler riders issued challans for riding without protective headgear. Traffic police further issued 3,435 challans for lane violations and zigzag driving, while 2,448 motorists were penalised for driving on the wrong side or taking illegal turns.Other violations included 883 cases of triple riding and 1,772 cases of improper parking.Yet, officials say punishment alone has not been enough to change behaviour. Even as images and videos of violators routinely surface on social media, many motorists continue to ignore traffic rules. In fact, citizen participation has become an important tool in enforcement, with residents regularly sharing photographs and videos of offenders with the traffic police.The city’s surveillance backbone comprises 2,085 CCTV cameras installed under the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), inaugurated in March 2022 as part of Chandigarh’s Smart City project. A dedicated team of 28 police personnel monitors the feeds round the clock, enabling automated detection of violations and issuance of e-challans.Road safety activist Harman Sidhu believes the current system lacks a stronger deterrent. “Since most challans are generated through CCTV cameras and no documents are seized on the spot, many violators don’t take them seriously. Several people don’t even pay the fines. They usually clear pending challans only when they have to sell their vehicles,” he said.Red light violations top the listOffencesChallansRed light jump180391Over-speeding 48945Zebra Crossing 48728Male/Female driver/Pillion rider without Helmet9195Lane change w/o signal/zig-zag driving3435Vehicle impounded2187Wrong side turn/driving2848Using black film/curtain2420Number plate not-legible/obscured2461Wrong parking1772Drunken driving1166Triple riding883Without seat belt814Driving on cycle track/footpaths652Minor Driving W/out DL50Total challans3,05,697Fine collected4,59,46,300BOX: Max violations in southern sectorsTraffic police said the highest number of violations and challans were reported from the city’s southern sectors. Officials attributed the trend to the large number of colonies and villages in the area, as well as its proximity to Mohali. Many violators, police said, assume they can evade action after crossing city limits, only to be caught by the camera network.BOX: Citizens become traffic watchdogsThousands of challans were also generated on the basis of photographs and videos shared by residents on the Chandigarh traffic police’s official social media handles. Complaints received through Facebook, X and WhatsApp have increasingly helped authorities identify and penalise violators, extending enforcement beyond traffic checkpoints and surveillance cameras.
