Soon, technology to test your car’s fitness

Tampered meters in auto rickshaws and taxis and rickety, unsafe and smoke-emitting trucks, buses and private vehicles will soon cease to exist.

The state transport department has a hit upon a state-of-the-art, technology-based solution — the mechanical fitness test lane. The project, which will take at least 18 months to become operational in the state, comprises a fully computerised and automated system of gauging a vehicle’s fitness.

Vehicles are currently chec-ked manually by Regional Transport Office (RTO) inspectors.

“This system will help introduce transparency and diminish any human interference in checking of vehicles. It will contribute, though in a small way, to decreasing the number of accidents in the city and the state,” said a senior transport department official, who requested anonymity.

The project is being funded entirely by the Union ministry of road transport and highways in 14 centres across the country and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), has been identified as the implementing agency.

The ARAI also made an exhaustive detailed presentation to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who also holds the transport portfolio, on the Rs14-crore project.

DNA has exclusive access to the presentation.

The mechanical fitness test lane project got a shot in the arm after the transport department and the association signed a memorandum of understanding on September 22.

“We have asked the Centre to release funds directly to the ARAI so that there are no delays in the implementation process,” said state transport commissioner VN More.

“According to the timetable of the union government, it will take 18 months for the project to become operational once the construction work begins. If the funds are released directly to the ARAI, the agency will need another two to three months for the tendering process to complete and identify the contractor to undertake the construction work,” he added. 

Once the mechanical fitness test lane project is implemented, the transport department will have to dump its hugely flawed inspection and certification processes.

Though official rules have defined the test requirements for inspecting and issuing fitness certificates, the current process leaves much to be desired. Usually, an RTO inspector monitors the vehicle superficially and gives the fitness certificate based on his opinion. This flawed process, many believe, explains the increasing corruption at the RTOs because power is vested in the hands of one official.

The mechanical fitness test lane system can be considered a step towards a radical overhaul of the inspection and certification process.

The first centre will be set up at the Nashik RTO, and is likely to be followed by the Baramati RTO and subsequently, other RTOs across the Maharashtra.