KARACHI: The Karachi Traffic Police continued issuing e-challans on Sharea Faisal for a second consecutive day as part of a new traffic management plan aimed at improving lane discipline on one of the city’s busiest roads.
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Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Karachi, Pir Muhammad Shah, said the electronic monitoring system recorded hundreds of traffic violations on the first day of enforcement, with authorities adopting a phased approach to help motorists adjust to the new regulations.
According to the traffic police, 96 challans were issued on Tuesday for various violations, including speeding, unauthorized use of the fast-track lane by rickshaws and commercial vehicles, and motorcyclists riding without helmets.
DIG Shah said commuters are being given limited leniency during the initial implementation phase. Currently, challans for lane discipline violations are being issued primarily during morning and evening peak traffic hours to gradually familiarize road users with the system.
He emphasized that motorcyclists, rickshaws and commercial vehicles are prohibited from using the fast-track lane and advised them to remain in the third and fourth lanes to ensure smoother traffic flow.
The traffic chief also noted that motorcyclists entering the second lane from the right are not being fined at present. However, he warned that stricter enforcement would be introduced in the coming days, and violations involving the second right lane would also become subject to penalties.
“Our objective is to encourage compliance with traffic laws while keeping fines to a minimum,” DIG Shah said.
The e-challan system for lane violations officially came into effect on June 1 under Karachi Traffic Police’s new traffic management strategy. The initiative uses an existing network of surveillance cameras to monitor vehicle movement and enforce lane discipline across Sharea Faisal.
Under the revised penalty structure, motorcyclists and rickshaw drivers face fines of Rs2,500 for violations, while buses and other larger commercial vehicles can be fined up to Rs7,500.
Traffic authorities believe the new system will help improve road safety, reduce congestion and promote better driving practices across Karachi.
