Hyderabad may soon see a major shift in how traffic fines are collected, with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy proposing an auto-debit system for challans. Under the idea, vehicle registration would be linked to the owner’s bank account, allowing penalties to be deducted instantly whenever a traffic violation is recorded.

Speaking at the launch of the ‘Arrive Alive’ road safety campaign, the Chief Minister said the current method of manually collecting fines often leads to delays and leniency. He argued that automatic recovery would ensure real-time enforcement and discourage repeat offences.

Revanth Reddy also took a tough stand on minors behind the wheel, stating that parents must face legal action if they allow underage driving that results in accidents. He called for stricter control over drunken driving and other dangerous violations.

The Chief Minister stressed that traffic regulation has now become a larger challenge than traditional law and order, and needs top-level attention. He revealed that an MoU with Google for traffic management has already been signed and asked officials to integrate CCTV networks with the Command Control Centre to strengthen monitoring and enforcement.

Citing the grim national figures of frequent accidents and deaths on roads, Revanth Reddy said that traffic crashes caused by violations should be treated as preventable tragedies, not unavoidable incidents. He added that awareness must begin at the student level, alongside better signals and a modernised transport system.

Senior officials including Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, DGP B. Shivadhar Reddy and Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar attended the programme, where a detailed action plan on road safety was also presented.

If implemented, the auto-debit challan system could eliminate excuses and delays, making traffic penalties more effective and transparent for Telangana’s growing urban population. Linking technology with enforcement may also reduce corruption and improve compliance. For motorists, the message is clear: violations will now hit the wallet instantly, making responsible driving not just safer but unavoidable.