At present, all vehicles are subjected to manual inspections at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) before fitness certification. Though the fees for such tests are only between ₹200 and ₹600, this method paved the way for bribes.
To avoid intervention of agents and brokers, the state government in 2021 announced that 42 ATS blocks will be constructed. But there was not much progress in the subsequent months as the government struggled to find adequate land for the project.
Earlier this year, the transport department decided that 18 ATS blocks will be constructed through public-private partnership. Among these, three will come up on Chennai’s outskirts at Tambaram, Red Hills and Sriperumbudur, according to an order issued by state home(transport) secretary, P Amudha.
All these centres will have three separate tracks and equipment to test the fitness of autos, cars, two-wheelers, trucks and buses. Experienced drivers will be deployed by private players, to be roped in later this year through tenders, to conduct tests on these tracks, said transport officials.
Every vehicle will be subjected to close to 40 different tests, which includes checking the braking systems, headlamps, battery, tyres, retro-reflective tapes, and speedometers.
In case a vehicle fails key tests, which indicate failure of brakes, clutches or lights, then the RTO, who will monitor the ATS outputs, will declare the vehicle ‘unfit’ and the vehicle owner can apply for retest within 30 days. If it fails again, the vehicle will be scrapped.
In addition to the testing fees, an additional fee of ₹50 will be charged from vehicle owners for each day of delay after the fitness certificate expires.
Transporters have welcomed this move. “This will not only bring transparency in the FC process but will eliminate the role of middlemen at RTOs,” said G Ganesh, who owns a transport company at Vandalur.
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