Nagpur, Dec 10 – Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced Wednesday that the state will set up a study group to rethink transport planning and the e‑challan system. The push comes as the number of vehicles around Mumbai keeps rising, making it clear that modern technology is needed for both planning and issuing electronic tickets.
The decision followed a remark from legislator Sunil Shinde, who raised concerns about traffic officers taking photos on their own phones to issue e‑challans. In response, Minister of State Yogesh Kadam said the government is looking into supplying dedicated cameras to constables. Fadnavis also confirmed that a formal study group will be formed, with members Prasad Lad, Satej Patil, Bhai Jagtap, Adv. Anil Parab and Manisha Kayande joining the conversation.
Speaking more broadly about transport policy, the Chief Minister noted that Mumbai’s Development Control Regulations do not adequately account for two‑wheelers. The government plans to explore whether alterations are possible and intends to upgrade the system so vehicle owners receive e‑challan notifications promptly.
Recovering old fines has become difficult, so the government will hold Lok Adalats and aim to settle 50 % of the dues through a compromise under an amnesty scheme. It will also look at tying penalty payments to FASTag as part of a future policy draft.
Fadnavis added that many residents in Mumbai’s slum areas lack designated parking spots and are forced to park on roads. That issue will also be taken into account when the new policy is drafted.
Meanwhile, Minister of State Yogesh Kadam reiterated that constables must not use private mobile phones for capturing challan photos, and disciplinary measures were already taken in Chandrapur for violations.
During the same session, Minister of Industry Uday Samant, who presides over the Urban Development Department during legislative proceedings, addressed a pending payment to Sthapatya Consultancy India Private Limited. The firm had been hired to conduct a property survey in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) limits, and the Minister said that the remaining amount would be released only after a thorough investigation into alleged irregularities in its work.
Samant was responding to a Calling Attention Motion raised by legislator Amit Gorkhe about the city‑wide property survey conducted by the private contractor under the PCMC Tax Assessment and Collection Department. Legislator Umatai Khapre also asked supplementary questions.
The Ministry confirmed that the company was awarded a Rs 47.95 crore contract to survey 580,000 properties. The survey uncovered an additional 370,213 properties. PCMC approved an extra Rs 29.09 crore for this increased workload, but only Rs 12 crore has been paid to date.
Irregularities were noted during the survey, particularly the reclassification of certain properties from “Residential” to “Commercial.” An inquiry led by the current Municipal Commissioner will examine these changes, and the payment of the remaining dues will await the investigation’s conclusion.
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