Pune Vehicle Fitness Tests Halted Again Due to Automated Station Shortage
Fitness tests for commercial vehicles across multiple districts, including Pune, have been suspended once more due to the unavailability of automated testing stations (ATS). This disruption follows a previous halt in February, which was triggered by a new central government rule mandating that fitness tests be conducted exclusively at ATS facilities.
Transporters Face Uncertainty and Financial Loss
Baba Shinde, president of the Maharashtra State Vahan Chalak Malak Mahasangh, confirmed the suspension, stating, "Since March 3, the testing of all vehicles has stopped again. We don't know when the same would resume. We have contacted the ministry of road transport and state transport authorities, but there was no clarity." Prior to this halt, the Dive Ghat facility in Pune's outskirts was manually testing 750-800 vehicles daily, issuing fitness certificates accordingly.
Shinde highlighted the growing backlog, noting, "One can calculate how many vehicles were thus waiting for the fitness certificates for 10 days now. Over 7,500-8,000 vehicles were waiting for these certificates. With no information, the numbers would only grow." Swapnil Bhosle, Pune deputy RTO, corroborated this, explaining that testing has ceased again, and authorities have requested permission to resume manual methods until upgrades are complete.
Government Response and Infrastructure Delays
Bhosle added, "We have asked them to allow testing to resume the old way until the facility would be upgraded. The upgradation of Dive Ghat would be expected by April. Work order for upgradation of a new facility at Alandi Road has also been given." He expressed hope for swift approval to resume manual testing, with adjustments for those with pending appointments.
Previously, Pune regional transport officer Archana Gaikwad indicated that the Dive Ghat facility would be upgraded to the ATS system by mid-March. However, Shinde revealed, "According to the information available with us, it would take at least 2-3 months before Pune RTO would be able to adopt the ATS."
Consequences for Vehicle Owners and Operators
The suspension has severe implications for commercial vehicle operators. Shinde warned, "Hundreds of vehicles, mainly trucks, could not move out without the fitness certificates. The RTO officials and police check them at different spots and would impose heavy fine on them. The fine for operating a commercial vehicle without a fitness certificate was Rs.10,000. If an accident occurred [without fitness certificate], there would not be any provision of an insurance claim." Transporters have requested that RTO officials refrain from fining vehicles lacking certificates during this period.
An anonymous transporter voiced frustration, stating, "Without providing us with the basic and required infrastructure, the authorities and the govt were troubling us time and again. Why was this ATS rule implemented without ensuring that upgraded facilities were ready everywhere? Action should be taken against the RTOs and not us. Our trucks have been standing without any business and we kept suffering losses amid such difficult times." This sentiment echoes earlier protests over issues like the e-challan system, which remain unresolved.
The ongoing delays underscore broader challenges in implementing centralized regulations without adequate local infrastructure, impacting the logistics and transport sectors in Maharashtra.
