Pune: Citizens Step Up as Digital Traffic Watchdogs, Five Felicitated by City Police
Viman Nagar, 9th January 2026: In a notable example of public participation in law enforcement, the Pune Police on Thursday honoured five residents who reported the highest number of traffic violations using the Pune Traffic Police (PTP) mobile application. The citizens were felicitated by Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar for their sustained efforts in flagging violations and tracking cases until penalties were imposed on offenders.
The recognition ceremony was held as part of National Road Safety Month, observed from January 1 to January 31, 2026, and was attended by senior traffic officials.
Speaking on the occasion, CP Amitesh Kumar said technology-backed systems deliver results only when citizens actively engage with them. “Traffic discipline is a shared responsibility. When citizens responsibly use digital platforms to report violations, it strengthens enforcement and helps prevent accidents,” he said while presenting certificates and cash awards to the awardees.
The five citizens — Amit Sheth, Siraj Dokdiya, Amrit Sharma, Rohit Chavan and one individual who chose to remain unnamed — together submitted several thousand verified reports through the PTP app. These reports translated into a large number of e-challans issued by the traffic police.
Senior traffic officials described the awardees as a crucial support system for the department. “With limited manpower on the roads, such citizens act as our extended surveillance network,” said Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Manoj Patil.
Patil said what distinguished these individuals was not just the volume of complaints, but the quality and consistency of reporting. “They documented offences such as illegal parking, signal violations, dangerous driving and lane indiscipline with precision, often during peak traffic hours,” he said.
Among the awardees, Amit Sheth topped the list with over 2,600 reported violations, resulting in more than 2,100 challans. Siraj Dokdiya followed with 1,249 reports leading to 994 challans, while Amrit Sharma reported 1,110 violations, of which 982 resulted in action. The anonymous citizen filed around 800 reports, and Rohit Chavan submitted 729, all contributing significantly to enforcement outcomes.
“These are citizens who didn’t stop at reporting. They ensured accuracy and followed up, which is critical for deterrence,” Patil added.
The initiative is supported by the Pune Platform for Collaborative Response (PPCR), which works with the traffic police on road safety, traffic management, pollution control and citizen awareness.
As part of Road Safety Month, the traffic department has also conducted awareness campaigns, intensified enforcement drives and rolled out multiple citizen-engagement programmes to improve traffic flow and reduce accidents across the city.
Police officials said Pune’s experience could serve as a model for other urban centres. “When people refuse to look the other way and choose to report violations, roads become safer for everyone,” Kumar said.
Citizen Voices from the Road
One of the awardees, Amrit Sharma, an engineer by training who moved to Pune in July and now teaches at a coaching institute on FC Road, said his involvement began with a routine parking issue. “I found cars occupying a two-wheeler parking space. That incident made me more observant about everyday traffic violations,” he said.
Sharma began reporting offences such as triple-seat riding, mobile phone use while driving, illegal tinted windows and non-standard number plates. Over time, his focus shifted to Hinjewadi and nearby areas, where he frequently witnessed serious accidents involving heavy vehicles.
“I flagged hundreds of dumpers and RMC trucks through the app, and challans were issued,” he said. However, he expressed concern over weak enforcement against heavy vehicles. “Many fines remain unpaid, and such vehicles continue to operate. Without strict recovery and vehicle seizure, reducing fatalities will be difficult.”
Amit Sheth, who reported the highest number of violations, said young motorists formed a significant portion of offenders. “Many deliberately use unreadable number plates. These vehicles are often involved in signal jumping and rash driving,” he said.
According to Sheth, stronger deterrence is essential. “Heavy penalties and long-term impounding of vehicles for repeat offenders are necessary to change behaviour,” he added.
Rohit Chavan, a computer science graduate from PICT, said his reporting began after he encountered a car driving on the wrong side. “My goal is simple — fewer accidents and fewer deaths on the road,” he said.
Chavan pointed out that areas around shopping malls, especially in Kothrud, see frequent violations on weekends. “Double parking and violations of designated parking rules are rampant on Saturdays and Sundays. Reporting these kept me motivated,” he said.
How the PTP App Helps Enforce Traffic Rules
The Pune Traffic Police app allows users to photograph or record traffic violations such as wrong-side driving, mobile phone use while driving, illegal parking, tinted glass and fancy number plates. Citizens upload clear evidence showing the vehicle number, which is then verified by traffic police officials. If found valid, an e-challan is issued to the offender, along with digital proof sent via SMS. The identity of the person reporting the violation is kept confidential.
