Car Breakdown on Noida Expressway? Get Ready for a Heavy Fine!

The traffic police have implemented a "breakdown challan" zone on the Noida Expressway to address traffic congestion caused by vehicle breakdowns.

If you are a regular on the Noida Expressway or even planning to take this route to Delhi, you may want to ensure that the vehicle is in top working condition and is well-fuelled. If your car breaks down on the Noida Expressway, the repair won't be the only thing that you will be spending heavily on. You may also be fined a hefty amount for "obstructing traffic".

The Noida traffic police have designated the Noida Expressway as a 'breakdown challan' zone to address frequent congestion caused by stalled vehicles. Under this rule, commercial vehicles that break down and obstruct traffic may be fined or even impounded. With nearly five lakh commuters using the expressway daily — connecting Noida, Greater Noida, Delhi, and the Yamuna Expressway — traffic bottlenecks have become a major issue. The penalties, levied under Section 201 of the Motor Vehicles Act, range from Rs 5,000 to Rs 20,000.

DCP (Traffic) Lakhan Singh Yadav was quoted by the Times of India as saying that heavy traffic flow, particularly during peak hours, is worsened by vehicle breakdowns. "If a vehicle stalls on the expressway, traffic police will tow it and impose fines. Commercial vehicles lacking a valid fitness certificate or necessary permits may also be impounded," he said.

Yadav told news website India Today that fines will be imposed only in those cases in which an accident is caused by the negligence of a driver or poor maintenance of the vehicle. The vehicle will also be seized. But if the vehicle breaks down for genuine reasons for no fault of the driver, no penalty will be imposed.

No Penalty For Private Cars

For now, the penalty will be imposed on commercial vehicles only. Private car owners are exempt from these penalties. According to the TOI report, nearly 50 vehicles were fined or seized within the first 10 days of February.

While a breakdown itself is not an offence, obstructing traffic is under the Motor Vehicles Act. Vehicles without valid registration, pollution under control (PUC) certificates, or those exceeding load limits are subject to fines.

Additionally, vehicles must adhere to emission norms set by the National Green Tribunal, which restricts petrol vehicles to a 15-year lifespan and diesel vehicles to 10 years. Traffic police now issue on-the-spot fines if required documents are missing when a vehicle is towed.

To facilitate towing operations, the traffic department has deployed one hydraulic crane and two smaller cranes. The expressway is monitored round-the-clock via ITMS cameras and manual patrols, with officers stationed at 30 traffic points along the 25-km stretch.

Authorities aim to respond to breakdowns within minutes, with cranes reaching the scene in about 10 minutes. As per the MV Act, the cost of the cranes will be borne by the vehicle owner. For cars and SUVs, officers may manually push the vehicle to the roadside, if feasible.

Despite existing measures — such as diversions via Udyog Marg and Sector 15 and 18 during peak hours — traffic congestion remains a challenge. To further ease movement near the DND Flyway loop, the police are widening a 250-metre stretch between Chilla Border and Mahamaya Flyover.