The Maharashtra government will establish 37 automated vehicle testing stations (ATS) by the end of August, as revealed during a review meeting held at the Chief Minister's residence on Thursday. Currently, seven such stations are operational across the state.
CM Directs Completion of 53 ATS
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed that vehicle fitness checks in the state should only be conducted through registered Automated Vehicle Testing Stations. To achieve this, work on setting up 53 ATS is underway, and he emphasized that these projects should be completed immediately.
Vehicle Population and Fitness Requirements
Maharashtra currently has approximately 4.3 crore vehicles, of which 36.8 lakh are in the transport category. Among these, around nine lakh vehicles require fitness tests every year. Fadnavis noted that the ATS system will enhance accuracy by reducing human intervention.
National Context and Project Cost
About 25% of the 214 ATS centers planned across the country will be located in Maharashtra. The project's cost for five years of operation and maintenance is estimated at Rs 1,035 crore, with a central grant of Rs 337.7 crore already received.
Meeting Attendees
The meeting was attended by state transport minister Pratap Sarnaik, additional chief secretary of transport Sanjay Sethi, transport commissioner Rajesh Narvekar, and other officials.
Central Motor Vehicle Rules 62
Central Motor Vehicle Rules 62 mandates automated fitness tests effective April 1, 2025. The central government had imposed phased restrictions on the 'Transport/Vehicle' portal access of some transport offices in the state due to the non-completion of automated vehicle inspection centers. This caused difficulties for vehicle owners and transporters.
CM Fadnavis requested the Centre to restore portal access immediately. The Centre acceded to the request and lifted the restrictions, ensuring smoother operations for vehicle owners and transporters in the state.
