By Amrit Pal Sidhu / Babushahi Network
Pathankot, 24 May 2026
To address the growing backlog of pending challans and reinforce adherence to road safety regulations, the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) in Pathankot held a key meeting. This session, chaired by Additional Deputy Commissioner (Retired)-cum-RTO Pathankot Arshdeep Singh Lubana, took place at his office and involved participants from the Transport Department, along with representatives from allied departments.
During the discussion, Arshdeep Singh Lubana expressed serious concern over the significant number of vehicle drivers who fail to settle their traffic challans for extended periods post-issuance. He noted that many individuals disregard these penalty notices, sometimes leaving them unresolved for months. This negligence results in vehicles being blacklisted on the transport department's online portal, creating obstacles for their owners.
Officials highlighted that blacklisted vehicles are barred from accessing crucial services provided by the department. These restrictions extend to vehicle transfer, fitness certification, tax submission, permit-related activities, obtaining an NOC (No Objection Certificate), duplicating registration certificates (RCs), license issuance, and other online services. Such situations force vehicle owners to grapple with additional financial and administrative challenges.
Lubana acknowledged that delays in settling challans often arise from lack of awareness or careless behavior among drivers. To mitigate this issue, the department plans to launch a special campaign focused on educating the public about the consequences of ignoring pending challans. He urged departmental personnel to proactively inform the community that unresolved challans not only lead to legal complications but also disrupt access to vital services related to their vehicles.
He emphasized that the Transport Department’s primary goal is not to inconvenience citizens but to promote compliance with road safety regulations. By clearing challans promptly, vehicle owners can avoid technical and administrative hurdles altogether. Lubana also assured that stricter monitoring measures would be implemented for tracking data related to vehicles with outstanding challans. Furthermore, efforts will be made to encourage people to check their challan status online and facilitate timely payments through accessible platforms.
This initiative is regarded as a significant move toward creating public awareness and averting future difficulties for vehicle owners. As part of this drive, Lubana issued a stern warning regarding specific vehicle numbers with overdue challans.