Pune is set to establish its first Vehicle Inspection and Certification (INC) center, marking a significant change in how vehicle fitness certificates are issued.
Vehicle owners in Pune will soon be required to undergo automated testing to receive their Vehicle Fitness Certificates, as direct inspections by Motor Vehicle Inspectors will be replaced by this new system.
The INC center, to be built at the RTO Testing Track in Dive Ghat, will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹14 crores. This initiative is part of a broader plan by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to set up Automated Testing Stations in major cities across the state, including Pune.
These stations aim to curb pollution and reduce the number of road accidents by ensuring only fit vehicles are allowed on the roads.
Currently, fitness certificates are issued manually by RTO inspectors, who inspect vehicles and determine their roadworthiness. This process is mandatory for public transport vehicles, such as auto-rickshaws and commercial transport vehicles, which must undergo fitness certification annually.
A vehicle is considered fit for use on the road only if it has a valid fitness certificate; otherwise, it is deemed illegal.
Transition to Automated Testing
The upcoming INC center will employ a fully automated system where approximately 30 different tests will be conducted on each vehicle. These tests will cover critical safety checks such as headlamp alignment, brake efficiency, and emissions (Pollution Under Control or PUC).
Crucially, these evaluations will be carried out without human intervention, ensuring unbiased and accurate assessments of vehicle fitness. Each test cycle is expected to take about 15 minutes, significantly speeding up the certification process compared to the current manual inspections.
Key Benefits of the Automated Testing Station:
Stricter Control on Polluting Vehicles: Vehicles that fail to meet emission standards will not receive fitness certificates, thereby reducing the number of polluting vehicles on the roads.
Enhanced Road Safety: Vehicles in poor mechanical condition will be barred from operating, which is expected to lower the incidence of road accidents.
Reduction in Old Vehicles: The new system will place restrictions on older vehicles, reducing their numbers on the road and promoting the use of newer, safer vehicles.
Easing Traffic Congestion: A decline in the number of vehicles could also help alleviate traffic congestion in the city.
According to Archana Gaikwad, the Regional Transport Officer of Pune, the INC center is expected to begin operations within the next five to six months.
