In a significant move providing relief to millions of vehicle owners, the Uttar Pradesh government has announced the cancellation of all pending electronic traffic challans (e-challans) issued between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021. This decision, effective immediately as per a notification from the Transport Department on September 16, 2025, covers both private and commercial vehicles, including those with cases pending in courts. The waiver aims to clear backlogs and ease burdens on citizens, particularly in light of past protests by farmers and commuters over accumulated fines.
The cancellation will automatically lift all obstructions linked to these challans, such as vehicle fitness certificates, permit renewals, vehicle transfers, and High Security Registration Plate (HSRP) installations. No refunds will be issued for previously paid fines, and the department has clarified that this is a one-time closure—old challans will not be reopened. The entire process of removing these records from the system is expected to be completed within 30 days, allowing vehicle owners to proceed with registrations and services without delays.
Vehicle owners can verify their challan status and track the removal process on the official UP Traffic Police e-challan portal (echallan.parivahan.gov.in) by entering their vehicle registration number. The Transport Commissioner has instructed all Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) to coordinate with courts to obtain lists of abated cases and delete the relevant entries from the portal promptly.
This initiative follows a similar waiver in 2023 under UP Ordinance Number 2 of June 2023, which covered the same period, but the 2025 announcement addresses any residual pending cases and streamlines the process further. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s administration emphasized that the move is citizen-friendly, urging drivers to settle future challans online to avoid complications. With over 20 lakh pending challans reported in districts like Gautam Budh Nagar alone in recent years, this step is poised to benefit lakhs of residents across the state.
