LUCKNOW, May 3 -- In spite of high-end surveillance cameras installed under the Smart City project at 155 intersections in Lucknow, traffic violators haven't paid up to Rs 52.61 crore fine against the total 4,95,025 challans issued through the integrated traffic management system (ITMS) in the last one year. This means that 97 percent violators are yet to pay the fine for 4,71,005 challans issued between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025, as per traffic police records accessed by HT. So far, only Rs. 1.61 crore of the total Rs. 54.23 crore fine has been realised as only 3 percent of traffic violators have paid it. When contacted, deputy commissioner of police (crime) Kamlesh Kumar Dixit, who also holds the additional charge of DCP traffic, said, "I am currently unaware about the issue, but I will look into the matter." A senior official of the Smart City project, who did not wish to be named, said the system automatically detects violations using a network of 569 cameras across the city. These cameras capture traffic violations such as red-light jumping, overspeed and lane-cutting. The footage is used to issue challans directly to vehicle owners based on licence plate recognition. "The ITMS can even issue real-time audio warnings through speakers at crossings. For example, if a vehicle crosses the zebra line but doesn't jump the signal, a warning is issued." "If the driver ignores it and moves ahead, a challan is automatically generated," the official added. Despite the system's efficiency in identifying violations, poor collection mechanism has led to such situation. The ITMS system, which works in coordination with the Lucknow traffic police, was designed to ensure real-time traffic regulation and enforcement through automation. However, officials admit that the system's role is largely limited to generating challans and issuing alerts, while responsibility for recovery and legal follow-up rest with other departments. In April 2024 alone, 54,110 challans worth Rs.5.23 crore were issued, but only 3,942 challans were disposed of, leading to realisation of just Rs.19.66 lakh. Similarly, in March 2025, challans worth Rs.5.22 crore were issued. Out of this amount, Rs. 5.13 crore remained unpaid. "Some challans go into litigation or are challenged by violators. Once the window for payment of the concerned department expires, many cases go to court, making recovery even harder," the official said....