Introduced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India, in 2017 on a pilot basis by the Mumbai Traffic police in October 2016, the e-challan system has since been put into practive all over the country. Aimed at digitising the process of traffic violation enforcement by eliminating manual loopholes, the system is proving to be annoying for transporters however.

It is not the technology, but the ones who deploy the system, claims transporters. Stating that the e-challan system has over time become a source of significant distress for transporters even though its introduction was appreciated by the industry as it digitised the process of traffic violation enforcement and eliminated many manual loopholes, Bal Malkit Singh, Chairman - Core Committe and Former President, All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), averred, "The system has over time become a source of significant distress for transporters and other road users. It has become a new ‘Frankenstein’ and death knell for the road transport sector.” 

Stating that a strong resentment is brewing and the transport fraternity across the country is agitating, Singh said, “The intention behind e-challans is to improve transparency and reduce manual intervention, but several issues have risen to complicate the situation for transporters.” “The primary issue stems from the large volume of incorrect or excessive e-challans issued to them. Many trucks plying long distances are receiving multiple e-challans for the same alleged offense or due to erroneous readings from speed detection or overloading devices,” he added. 

Giving an example of trucks travelling through multiple states often receiving fines for supposed infractions such as over-speeding or minor overloading even though they are within legal limits, Singh explained, “Such errors accumulate and led to a financial strain for transporters. This is exacerbated as transporters operate nationwide – covering diverse terrains and jurisdictions – that would mean that they may be penalised in various states.” “These fines often lack clarity or the chance for immediate redressal, leading to confusion and increased operational costs,” he elaborated.

Informing that enforcement officials have found a way around technology to generate motivated challans without any verifiable proof of offence, which is leading to acute harassment of the transport fraternity, Singh articulated, “There is neither authentication of any violation through static photo nor there is any transparency leading to acute harassment of the transport fraternity. Static photo of a parked vehicle is clicked and challans are issued for random offences. The vehicle owner may be from a geographically distant state and cannot contest the challan in court. Lack of communication regarding issuance of e-challan to the vehicle owner/operators who is sitting in one part of the country and must travel across the length and breadth of it to get it disposed/rectified.”

With instance where the vehicle owner comes to know of the challans issued only after he tries to dispose of his vehicle, goes to renew its fitness and to renew the permit (in the case of commercial vehicles), the issues with e-challans is pan-India in nature than be limited to a certain geographically or cultural area it looks like. 

Transport associations like the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) have voiced concerns and are actively engaging with state and central authorities to address the growing problem. They have raised issues related to inaccurate e-challans due to technical errors or faulty detection equipment, lack of a unified system across states leading to inconsistency in how fines are issued and difficulty in contesting these fines as there is no streamlined process for redressal or appealing incorrect challans.

They are demanding a centralised and transparent grievance redressal system, standardisation of e-challan policies, equipment calibration across states and leniency or waiver of penalties that are clearly issued due to system malfunctions, according to Singh. 

Of the opinion that traffic enforcement is a state subject, Singh expressed that the intensity and frequency of issues differ state-to-state therefore and in some states use of faulty equipment or overly strict enforcement practices that has led to a higher number of incorrect challans. Singh drew attention to issues like non-integration with national vehicle databases (such as Vahan 4) in some states. “The system in Telangana for example,” Singh articulated, “has been of specific concern for transporters because it is not fully integrated with the national system, leading to problems like wrongful issuance of challans for vehicles from other states.” 

"The potential solutions to addressing the issue of e-challan," Singh commented, “Is to ensure scientifically verifiable evidence. A centralised grievance redressal system with a nodal officer should be put in place. The exact recording of the offence with exact measurement in case of over-height or overload or similar such case should be presented rather than a picture to avoid any doubt about motivated action. Equipment and procedures should be standardised. Vehicle databases should be integrated. Enforcement officials should ne trained to be humane. The accountability of the enforcement officials should be ascertained whenever the issue of motivated challans is there." 

Image for representative purpose only. 

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Mahindra Truck and Bus, a division of the Mahindra Group, has introduced the Mahindra Blazo i-TRK heavy commercial vehicle range in India.

The vehicle range features Mahindra's 320hp mPOWER engine and the iMAXX 2.0 fleet telematics platform.

The company says the new Blazo i-TRK delivers up to 10 percent higher fuel efficiency compared to previous models. Mahindra has also introduced a 48-hour uptime guarantee for the vehicle range, offering a compensation scheme of INR 10,000 per day in cases where service timelines are not met.

The telematics platform connects vehicle systems to provide fleet operators with operational data, remote monitoring capabilities and maintenance management tools. The integration of connected vehicle technology is intended to support freight movement and fleet productivity across Indian transport routes.

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Eicher Trucks & Buses, a division of VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), has inaugurated its 11^th Regional Competence Development Centre (RCDC) at Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology (DCRUST) in Murthal, Haryana. The facility was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini.

The centre was established in collaboration with DCRUST to provide technical instruction and skill training in commercial vehicle technologies. It covers 7,900 square feet and contains classrooms, workshops, vehicle practice bays, diagnostic tools and training platforms for light, medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. It features dynamic driveline models, engine sections, electrical laboratories, a vehicle inspection pit and VECV's mobile training unit.

S S Gill, Chief Commercial Officer, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, “We are grateful to the Chief Minister of Haryana Nayab Singh Saini, the Government of Haryana and our partner, DCRUST, for their support in making this Regional Competence Development Centre a reality. At Eicher, we believe the future of the commercial vehicle industry will be shaped as much by skilled people as by advanced technologies. Through this collaboration, we are creating a strong foundation for future-ready talent and contributing to a resilient mobility ecosystem.”

Sumit Dewan, Senior Vice-President, VE Commercial Vehicles, said, "Through our partnership with DCRUST, we are creating a platform that enables students, faculty and dealership professionals to gain hands-on exposure to advanced commercial vehicle technologies and evolving industry practices. Students from the centre will have the opportunity to serve in their communities through Eicher’s nationwide network of dealerships across Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh. The centre will strengthen technical capability across our service network, enhancing customer experience through improved vehicle uptime and operational efficiency.”

The curriculum covers areas including electric vehicles, mechatronics, powertrains, automated transmissions, vehicle electronics, diagnostics, telematics, emission control systems, driver assistance systems and alternative fuels such as CNG and LNG.

The Murthal facility will support the training needs of nearly 50 dealerships across Delhi-NCR, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh. Approximately 150 engineering students from DCRUST will use the facility annually, while the mobile training initiative is expected to reach 600 students per year across technical institutions in the region.

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Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), the wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG and manufacturer of BharatBenz trucks and buses, has inked a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Tamil Nadu at the Tamil Nadu Investment Conclave.

As per the understanding, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles plans to invest INR 40 billion to further strengthen its business in India. Once finalised, the total investment by DICV in the country will exceed INR 145 billion and create an additional 400 jobs, since it started operations in 2012.

Till date, the company has sold over 220,000 trucks and buses in the country, which find applications across freight movement, construction, mining, logistics and passenger mobility.

The company's primary manufacturing and R&D footprint consists of a 400-acre plant in Oragadam near Chennai, employing over 4,000 staff and utilising a network of more than 400 local suppliers that account for 92 percent of product value localisation. The brand's nationwide distribution and service setup comprises over 420 dealer touchpoints, complemented by a Parts Logistics Centre in Pune.

In addition to serving domestic requirements, DICV functions as an export hub within Daimler Truck's international network. The Chennai facility has exported over 75,000 commercial vehicles and 330 million parts to more than 70 markets, alongside supplying transmissions to Daimler Truck manufacturing locations in Germany.

Torsten Schmidt, Managing Director & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, "BharatBenz was built for India, and this investment reflects our confidence in the next phase of the country’s commercial vehicle growth. As infrastructure, logistics, mining, construction and passenger mobility continue to expand, Indian customers need trucks and buses that deliver higher uptime, safety, reliability and operating efficiency. Through BharatBenz, we are strengthening products, localization, service readiness and parts availability for India, while also reinforcing the country’s role as an important manufacturing and supply base within Daimler Truck’s global network."

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Ashok Leyland, the commercial vehicle manufacturer and flagship company of the Hinduja Group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Drivn, a financing and leasing provider for electric commercial vehicles. The agreement aims to offer financial solutions to customers purchasing Ashok Leyland electric vehicles.

The agreement was signed by Niruban M, Head of Alternate Energy at Ashok Leyland and Alpna Jain, CBO and Co-Founder of Drivn.

As per the understanding, Drivn will supply end-to-end financial solutions, including financing, leasing, and fleet ownership structures. The initiative seeks to lower initial capital expenditure for buyers and support the adoption of electric commercial vehicles across business sectors.

Sudip Dhali, Head of Marketing at Ashok Leyland, stated: “Ashok Leyland is delighted to partner with Drivn to offer attractive and accessible financing solutions to our EV customers. This strategic partnership will further strengthen our market presence by making our innovative range of electric commercial vehicles more accessible to businesses across the country. Backed by cutting-edge technology and delivering an industry-leading total cost of ownership, our products are designed to maximize customer profitability. We remain committed to providing best-in-class mobility solutions and an exceptional ownership experience for our customers.”

Alpna Jain added, “We are pleased to partner with Ashok Leyland to offer seamless electric vehicle financing solutions. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to supporting businesses with accessible, tailored financial solutions that simplify vehicle ownership and enable growth. We aim to make electric commercial vehicle ownership simpler, more accessible, and more rewarding for our customers.”

Ashok Leyland continues to expand its portfolio of electric trucks and buses, targeting zero-emission commercial mobility within the Indian market.

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