After the implementation of the e-challan system for traffic violations in the city from January 1, DNA has accessed an order issued by Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Milind Bharambe to traffic police officers, instructing them not to stop motorists only to check for documents like Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, insurance certificate and other such documents issued by the RTOs, until further orders.

The traffic police chief's order is aimed at ensuring greater transparency in the system, and to avoid unnecessary disputes between the traffic police and motorists.

The order was issued on March 10 to the Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic), the three DCPs in the traffic department, Assistant Commissioners, Senior Police Inspectors and inspectors of all the traffic branches.

The order states, "The objective of implementing the e-challan system is to make motorists follow traffic rules, to bring discipline to the city's traffic and to implement the cashless system. Despite this, the department is receiving complaints that officers and constables are not maintaining transparency during action."

The order further states, "It has also been observed that even after conveying orders to all the officers of the department and constables, they are still asking motorists to produce PUC, Insurance, Green tax certificate and other documents issued by the RTO, leading to arguments between motorists and traffic police, and resulting in damaging the image of the department. Hence, senior police officers of the traffic department should intimate all the traffic police officers and constables that they should not be asking motorists to produce their vehicle's PUC certificate, insurance and other documents issued by the RTO till further orders."

"The order has been issued to curb irregularities in the traffic department and to implement cashless transactions. The department has also received several complaints from citizens regarding the issue," said a Senior Traffic Police officer on the basis of anonymity.

Meanwhile, motorists have welcomed the move and say it will help avoid unnecessary harassment by the traffic police officers. "It's a really great move, it will end the unnecessary harassment of motorists. Generally, it's time-consuming. They keep asking for every document even if we haven't violated any traffic rule. I hope it will also stop corruption," said motorist Kailash Patel from Borivali (west).