The Mumbai Traffic Police have taken action against over 65 lakh vehicle owners for traffic violations in just 13 months. The above data is from January 1, 2024, to February 5, 2025. According to this data the total fines imposed have amounted to a massive Rs 526 crore. However, out of this, only Rs 157 crore has been collected so far, leaving Rs 369 crore in unpaid dues. The above information was obtained through an RTI query filed by activist Anil Galgali.
44,13,450 owners yet to clear their dues
The fines were enforced by 41 traffic divisions and the multimedia department and issued across 26 different categories of violations. According to the RTI, around 20,99,396 offenders have paid their fines. But shockingly, over 44,13,450 vehicle owners are yet to clear their dues for violating traffic rules.
Furthermore, the data also reveals one particular category of violations, unauthorized flicker and amber lights, has shown poor compliance. A total of 47 vehicle owners were fined Rs 23,500 for using such lights violating the rules. However, among these 47 owners only seven individuals have paid the fine. The total contributed a mere Rs 3,500 to the collection.
Majority of Violations at Marine Drive
Meanwhile, the majority of these traffic violations were recorded at Marine Drive, one of the posh areas of Mumbai. Here, over 32 vehicle owners were penalized. Among these 32 owners only two vehicle owners have settled their fines, contributing Rs 1,000 to the total.
Need for more effective enforcement
Responding to the pending number of unpaid fines, RTI activist Anil Galgali called attention to the need for more effective enforcement. “The Mumbai Traffic Police have done a satisfactory job, but due to a shortage of officers and staff, they are unable to take action more effectively. A special recovery drive is necessary to collect the pending fines from offenders.” Issue digital notices to defaulting vehicle owners & Implement stricter measures, including vehicle seizure for major defaulters, says Galgali
The data shows a growing concern over the effectiveness of traffic rule enforcement in Mumbai. The situation calls for a more robust strategy to ensure that fines are collected and traffic laws are followed more strictly across the city.
