Gangtok: The Sikkim Transport Department has announced that AI-driven e-challaning and the Electronic Traffic Monitoring System (ETMS) will resume across all districts from November 1, 2025, marking a renewed push toward smarter and more efficient road safety enforcement.
The advanced system, powered by Artificial Intelligence, automatically detects and records traffic violations, enabling real-time monitoring and streamlined penalty processing.
In a press release issued by the Motor Vehicles Division, the department stated that first-offence fines have been reduced wherever feasible, and citizens will be granted a 15–20 day grace period to update their vehicle documents before e-challaning resumes.
To reduce the chances of repeated penalisation, the grace period between two consecutive automatic e-challans — for offences such as pollution or noise standard violations, driving without valid permits, or lacking insurance — has been extended from 15 days to 60 days. Officials said the decision aims to allow sufficient time for vehicle owners to rectify documentation issues.
The Transport Department has urged all vehicle owners to update their documents on the Vahan Portal and ensure their registered mobile numbers are active, to avoid automatic fines.
Reiterating that the initiative is being implemented in the public interest, the department said the AI-based traffic management system will play a crucial role in strengthening electronic enforcement and promoting road discipline across Sikkim.
The notice was issued by the Nodal Officer-cum-RTO (HQ), Motor Vehicles Division, Transport Department, Government of Sikkim.
