New Delhi: The government on Sunday proposed certain amendments in the eligibility criteria for setting up an automated testing station to check the suitability of vehicles, rules to allow vehicles to be tested out of registration status and the norm to declare a vehicle as end-of-life vehicle.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) said in a statement that it has issued a draft notification dated March 25, 2022 to make certain amendments to the rules for “recognizing, regulating and controlling automated test stations,” which were earlier published on September 23 2021.
“These draft rule proposes amendments in the following aspects: eligibility criteria for establishing these stations, automatic transfer of test results from equipment to server, permitting vehicles registered in one state to be tested in another, and vehicle advertising criteria, such as end-of-life vehicle.”
ATS uses mechanical equipment to automate the various tests needed to check the suitability of a vehicle.
According to the statement, some new equipment has been added to test electric vehicles.
"A new standardized format for test results has been added," the statement said, adding that the effort was made to improve the ease of doing business.
She said the notice will remain in the public domain for 30 days for comments and suggestions from all parties involved.
The government plans to make vehicle fitness testing through the ATS mandatory in phases, starting in April next year.
The application will be submitted in stages. Proficiency tests for heavy freight vehicles and heavy passenger vehicles via ATS will be mandatory from April 1, 2023, according to the draft notice.
In the case of medium freight vehicles, medium passenger cars and vehicles with light engines (transport), the requirement will be mandatory from June 1, 2024.
Last year, the ministry said that entities such as private vehicles, state governments, businesses, associations and people's bodies could open ATS to testing the suitability of personal and transportation vehicles.
The fitness test for personal vehicles (other than transportation) is conducted at the time of registration renewal (after 15 years).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Vehicle Scrapping Policy in August last year, saying it would help phase out invalid and polluting vehicles as well as boost the circular economy.
The vehicle scrapping policy will come into effect on April 1, 2022.
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