Punjab to get automated testing stations for heavy vehicles

The state Transport Department will soon have automated testing stations for testing the fitness of heavy goods and passenger vehicles.At present, vehicle owners sometimes face harassment at the hands of motor vehicle inspectors for getting fitness certificates for their vehicles.

A senior government functionary said a stay on opening tenders for the testing stations had been vacated and now these were being floated.

Under the existing practice, the vehicles are passed by motor vehicle inspectors at designated places in different districts.

Once these stations become operational across the state, the testing process will become simple and easy.

Officials in the department said the testing stations would evaluate the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles after these complete their stipulated lifespan. It will check the technical quality of the vehicle and whether it meets the environmental stipulations or not.

“Currently, the process of checking roadworthiness of a vehicle involves a lot of discretion. Sometimes, it even results in poor vehicles getting road worthiness certificates. But after the stations start operations, the entire process will be automatic. In total, a vehicle will be tested on 23 parameters,” the official said, adding that the stations would use mechanical equipment to automate the various tests.

Though the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has made fitness testing of vehicles through automated testing stations mandatory from April 1, 2023, the project had been delayed due to litigation in Punjab.

The stations will cover taxis, goods vehicles and buses which have completed the 15-year lifespan.

The renewal certificate will be valid for two years for commercial vehicles (transport) that are up to eight years old and one year for vehicles that are older than eight years.