Gangtok: The Transport Department of the Government of Sikkim has extended the one-time settlement scheme under the AI-driven Traffic Management System by 15 days, giving vehicle owners additional time to clear their pending fines. The scheme, which was initially set to close on August 31, will now remain valid until September 15, 2025, according to a notification issued on Monday.
The initiative offers violators the option of clearing their dues by paying either 50 per cent of the total penalty or ₹20,000, whichever is lower. The scheme, first announced in July, aimed to ease the financial burden on vehicle owners while encouraging greater compliance with traffic regulations.
However, sources in the Motor Vehicle Department revealed that the collection drive has encountered significant challenges. Only around 25 per cent of fines generated were reportedly recovered during the August window. Officials cited outdated mobile numbers, unupdated ownership records, and incomplete addresses as major reasons for the low recovery rate. In several cases, challan notifications were sent to previous owners who had already sold their vehicles, while others could not be traced due to vague or duplicate vehicle registrations.
The prevalence of common names without proper house numbers—such as multiple entries for Karma or Sonam—further complicated the process. “You cannot always put the blame on the citizens. The system itself needs to be more robust and accurate,” a Motor Vehicle Department official said on condition of anonymity.
A meeting of the Transport and Motor Vehicle Department concluded that a more reliable mechanism is needed, linking registrations to Aadhaar and verified mobile numbers to ensure accurate identification of vehicle owners. A detailed report highlighting the shortcomings of the current system and suggesting reforms will be submitted to the Chief Minister, who also holds the Transport portfolio.
With the deadline now extended, the government hopes to improve compliance rates and recover a larger share of pending fines before the new cut-off date of September 15.
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