Vehicle fitness centre to be opened

Despite resistance from various state governments, the Centre will continue to prod them to set up automated vehicle inspection and certification centres, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Secretary Sanjay Mitra said here on Friday.

Seven vehicles fitness

centres will be opened in different parts of the country, including Karnataka, Delhi, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh, the secretary said, inaugurating a seminar on ‘Pursuing 4Es for Road Safety – in the Mission Mode’ organised by the International Road Federation.

According to the Motor Vehicles Act, the in-use transport vehicles must renew their fitness certificate every year.

For new vehicles, the certificates will be issued for two years, after which they should get it renewed annually.

Complete system

Currently, the fitness test of the in-use transport vehicles such as heavy motor vehicles and light motor vehicles is being carried out in a non-mechanised and completely visual manner by regional transport office (RTO) officials.

The road transport ministry wants complete automated system to be implemented.

“As part of making roads safer, the ministry has released Rs 500 crore to rectify engineering faults on the national highways. Around 800 black spots have been identified across the country. Similarly 10% of central road funds of about Rs 800 crore will be spent on road safety by the state governments,” Mitra added.