Ranchi: Jharkhand's first fully automated vehicle testing centre became operational at Irba near Ormanjhi on Friday to function as an authorised centre for issuing fitness certificates to new and used vehicles.
Located on the Ranchi-Ramgarh stretch of NH 33, the centre will conduct scientific tests on medium and large vehicles, motorcycles and three-wheelers.
"A range of tests and inspections compliant with the Motor Vehicles Act-1988 can be done at the centre to enable vehicle owners comply with automotive safety regulations," said an official of Auto Services, a private firm that has set up the centre.
He said fitness certificates for new and used vehicles would be issued after conducting road worthiness tests. "In addition to this, inspection of tyres, steering, external and internal body, under-body, dashboard equipment, mirrors & safety glasses will also be done," he added.
Although the centre is privately run, the charges have been fixed by the state - Rs 600 for light vehicles and Rs 1,000 for commercial/heavy vehicles.
Transport commissioner Faiz A.K. Ahmad Mumtaz said setting up fully automated vehicle testing centres were expected to become mandatory across the country from next year.
"The amendment bill to the Motor Vehicles Act-199 has been passed by Lok Sabha and pending in Rajya Sabha. Sooner or later it will happen and we have to be ready before the new rules come into force," he said, adding that similar centres were being planned in Dhanbad, Hazaribagh and Jamshedpur soon.
"In Dhanbad, we will be setting up a centre with funding from the government of India. In the two other places, we will explore public-private partnerships (unlike the Ranchi centre which is private)," he said.
The Auto Services official said prior to acquiring fitness certificates for new and used private vehicles, applicants would need to provide certain documents. "Owners will have to present registration certificate, driver's licence, custom clearance (imported vehicles) and current fitness certificates," he said, adding that fitness certificates would ultimately help curb vehicular pollution and road accidents due to mechanical failures.
"Being a fully automated station, human intervention will be no longer needed for inspecting vehicles," he said.
Among those present at the inauguration of the facility were state transport minister C.P. Singh, Ranchi MP Ram Tahal Choudhary and transport secretary Rahul Sharma.
"The centre has been set up on one acre and is the first in this state. Specialists from TÜV SÜD, global experts in automated testing, will certify vehicles," remarked the official of Auto Services.
