In a move that is expected to bring about stringent checks on polluting and road unworthy vehicles, the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) has implemented a scheme for setting up of one model Automated Inspection & Certification Centre for vehicle fitness test in each state/UT in the country.
This is based on a notification by the government, dated April 8, 2021, which provides for recognition, regulation and control of Automated Testing Stations.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha yesterday, Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Minister, MoRTH said as on date, a total of 26 such Inspection & Certificate centres (one each in 26 states/UTs) have been sanctioned by the Ministry under the scheme.
In other developments, the minister noted that the government had issued a notification on March 15, 2021 that provides for Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Rules, 2021 for establishment of Registered Vehicles Scrapping Facility (RVSF).
On the same date, the government had also issued a notification for waiver of registration fee on vehicles registered against submission of Certificate of Vehicle Scrapping. A notification was also issued for concession in motor vehicle taxes for vehicle registered against submission of the same Certificate of Vehicle Scrapping. It was also notified in March this year that only Registered Vehicles Scrapping Facility (RVSF) has to dispose auto parts.
As part of the same response to the upper house of the Parliament, the minister said the government had also notified revision of registration fee/ fitness testing fee/ certificate of fitness fee to disincentivise use of old and unfit vehicles.