Limit on number of fitness tests at RTO leaves transporters facing losses

Nagpur: The slow pace of vehicles inspection for issuing fitness certificates by rural Regional Transport Office (RTO) has left transporters irked, and facing financial losses.
Sources in RTO attributed the tardy pace of inspections to a new diktat issued by the transport commissioner’s office in Mumbai, asking motor vehicle inspectors to inspect only 25 vehicles a day as per vehicle category. The move has drawn sharp reactions from transporters and autorickshaw drivers, who claim that the slow inspections by the RTO were causing them financial loss.
Following complaints from transporters, TOI visited the fitness track of rural RTO on Tuesday and found that at least two hundred vehicles — including autorickshaws, trucks, tippers — were parked along the roadside for their turn since Sunday night.
Fitness test is mandatory every year for all category of transport vehicles under section 56 of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988.
Transporter Imran Khan ridiculed the slow pace of fitness tests. “I am stationed here since Sunday night, and still awaiting my turn. It has been two days and we have faced a lot of inconvenience as regards food, using toilet, taking rest and waiting endlessly in this scorching heat,” he said, adding that he is incurring financial loss since he could not deliver consignments.
On Tuesday, around 60 vehicles had undergone the fitness tests whereas normally 100-150 vehicles are completed, depending on the size of the vehicle.
Prakash Sahare, an autorickshaw driver, too has been waiting for the fitness test of his three-wheeler since Monday. “Since the auto is our only source of income, I have lost approximately around Rs1,500-2,000,” said a miffed Sahare.
Now onwards, vehicle owners and drivers can expect to keep facing such delays to renew their vehicle fitness certificates. The officer admitted that if their vehicle fitness certificates expire during this waiting period, and they are caught by cops, drivers will be forced to pay at least Rs10,000 fine.
Some transporters also complained that the RTO is failing fitness tests for even small reasons like non-functioning left side wiper of a truck etc.
Deputy RTO Roopkumar Belsare said as per the guidelines issued by the TC office, and with four motor vehicle inspectors (MVIs) usually on duty, 60-75 vehicles could be inspected in a day. As opposed to that, around 170-180 vehicles have come for fitness test, resulting in accumulation of vehicles, he said.
(With inputs from Manan Daga)