2,700 traffic violations a day in Chandigarh last year

The top category in the violations was jumping red light and dangerous driving which invited 4.97 lakh challans.

As many as ,988 people were challaned for taking a U-turn, where it was prohibited and 6,500 people were challaned for using black film in their four-wheelers windows. (Express file photo)

As many as 9.85 lakh people were challaned last year in Chandigarh. While almost 5 lakh people were challaned for jumping the red light, 1.46 lakh were penalised for speeding.

According to the data shared by Chandigarh traffic police, 9,85,451 challans were issued from January 1 to December 31, 2024. The challans, which include both from device and ITMS system, brought revenue of Rs 23 crore for the traffic police.

The top category in the violations was jumping red light and dangerous driving, which invited 4.97 lakh challans, followed by speeding (1.46 lakh challans), and zebra crossing (1.10 lakh challans).

Last year, female drivers or pillion riders riding without helmet were also challaned in huge numbers, with 52,544 being penalised. In the same category for males, as many as 32,258 were challaned.

In 2024, 26,080 people were also challaned for wrong parking in the city, followed by 5,108 for driving on cycle tracks or footpath. As many as 7,014 people were challaned for wrong-side driving and 1,532 for using mobile phones while driving.

As many as ,988 people were challaned for taking a U-turn, where it was prohibited and 6,500 people were challaned for using black film in their four-wheelers windows. Also, 5,666 people were challaned for having a non-legible number plate (where vehicle registration numbers and letters are difficult or impossible to read clearly), and 2,367 for triple riding.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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