Patna: The seat belt drive, which had taken a backseat after its launch on April 11, is set to stage a comeback in the form of electronic challan.

Even manual checking will take place through enforcement sub-inspector of the transport department but electronic checking will be more effective.

The seat belt drive continued for a week in the city but after that, it was not visible at any of the important roundabouts as the transport department had claimed. The drive had forced residents to wear the seat belt but gradually they discontinued the habit because of the transport department's laxity.

Transport secretary Sanjay Kumar Agarwal told The Telegraph: "From Wednesday (May 24), we will launch the e-challan system, which will penalise people for not wearing seat belt. The photo of the driver and the person seating in the front seat will be captured along with the registration number of the vehicle and then the e-challan will be sent to the respective address."

Not wearing the seat belt is a punishable offence under Rule 138 (3) of Section 177 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and attracts a fine of Rs 600. A repeat offence will ensure cancellation of the licence.

During the drive, people had to pay Rs 600 in Patna. Lakhs of rupees were collected by way of penalty, including that from helmetless bikers.

Asked about the missing seat belt drive in the city, Agarwal said: "It was going on randomly at many places. People were caught and fined. We want to inculcate the culture of wearing the seat belt and helmet. It should come not out of fear but as a sense of duty. There was one more problem that there were chances of accidents during manual checking. People used to get scared seeing the inspection team. Now, the e-challan will directly reach their houses."

Agarwal stressed that if checkings take place after prior announcement, people will wear the seat belt on that particular day and not on the rest.

The Telegraph on Saturday found many drivers not wearing the seat belt, risking their lives.

The transport department has completed the testing of the software, which is fixed with closed-circuit television cameras. It also works in case of jumping the traffic signal and overriding the zebra crossing. "We have noticed that seat belt use has increased but not fully. Our target is to achieve cent per cent results," said Agarwal.