The Bihar Police and transport department have jointly launched the ‘Lump Sum Traffic Challan Settlement Scheme 2026’ to facilitate the disposal of pending e-challans through National Lok Adalat proceedings during the financial year 2026-27. The scheme, effective immediately, covers traffic violation e-challans issued by police or transport authorities that have remained unpaid for over 90 days as of March 31, 2026. It includes cases where prosecution reports have either been filed or are yet to be filed in court. Payments can be made through cash or UPI.
Next National Lok Adalat Scheduled for May 9
The upcoming National Lok Adalat is scheduled for May 9, offering a crucial opportunity for violators to settle their pending challans. Currently, more than 2 lakh traffic challan cases are pending in Bihar courts, with 10,850 fresh cases added in the first 16 days of April alone. The move comes after the Patna High Court, during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), questioned why Bihar could not adopt Lok Adalat-based settlement of traffic challans like several other states.
Relief for Minor Offences
Under the scheme, violators will receive relief in penalties for minor offences such as not wearing helmets or seat belts, speeding, and driving without a licence. Officials have stated that such cases would be prioritised for settlement to reduce public inconvenience. Addressing a press conference at police headquarters on Friday, Additional Director General (Traffic) Sudhanshu Kumar said, “The Centre’s Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme (CAH) was rolled out nationwide by the Prime Minister from February 13, 2026. Under CAH, every road accident victim is entitled to cashless treatment up to Rs 1 lakh for a maximum of seven days from the date of the accident.”
Focus on Golden Hour Emergency Care
Sudhanshu Kumar emphasised that the scheme aims to strengthen Golden Hour emergency care for accident victims. He added that hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY have been designated for treatment under the scheme. Furthermore, vehicles involved in accidents must be returned to owners within 24 hours after inspection and legal formalities. For monitoring grievances, Police headquarters has set up a control room where vehicle details can be sent through WhatsApp for prompt action.
This initiative is expected to significantly reduce the backlog of traffic challan cases and provide much-needed relief to the public, while also enhancing road safety measures in Bihar.
