KARACHI: The efficacy of the recently introduced e-challan system in the metropolis has come under question after traffic police reverted to manual checking and physical seizure of vehicles, despite spending millions of rupees on the installation of surveillance cameras across the city.
Awareness campaign in Garden
On the orders of DIG Traffic Karachi, a traffic awareness campaign was organized within the limits of the Traffic Section Garden.
According to officials, citizens were apprised of the need to comply with traffic rules, including no-parking regulations, e-challans, use of valid number plates, possession of driving licences, lane discipline and compliance with traffic signals.
During the campaign, action was taken against vehicles plying without number plates and they were taken into custody, while challans were also issued to motorcyclists found riding without helmets.
Officials said the drive was aimed at creating awareness among citizens and ensuring road discipline in the city.
Manual checking despite e-challan system
However, no reason has been provided by the authorities as to what prompted them to resort to manual checking despite heavy investment made to install cameras for facilitating the e-challan system.
The development has raised questions whether the manual enforcement and the automated e-challan system will now operate simultaneously in Karachi.
It also raises the question whether the camera-based system alone is not proving effective in curbing violations, or whether manual checking is being reintroduced as a supplementary enforcement measure.
Traffic police officials have yet to clarify whether such manual campaigns will continue alongside e-challans in other traffic sections of the city as well.
