Commercial Vehicle Owners in Maharashtra Face Delays in Fitness Certificate Renewals

Key Highlights:

• Commercial vehicle owners in Maharashtra face trouble renewing fitness certificates due to mandatory Speed Limiting Device (SLD) details.
• Changes to the Vahan system now require SLD information, causing delays for BS-IV and BS-VI vehicles.
• Vehicle owners report long waits and frustration, having to visit the original RTO to update details.
• Transporters argue the SLD requirement promotes corruption, pushing owners to rely on agents.
• The transport department is working on resolving the issue and has empowered RTO officers to update the system.

Commercial vehicle owners across Maharashtra are encountering difficulties while renewing their fitness certificates. These issues primarily revolve around the Speed Limiting Devices (SLD) required for vehicles compliant with BS-IV and BS-VI emission norms. 

The problem surfaced in mid-August after changes were made to the Vahan system, a national vehicle registration portal. Now, it has become mandatory for commercial vehicles, such as trucks, buses, taxis, and tempos, to provide detailed SLD information during the fitness renewal process.

Transporters Express Frustration

Transporters and Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials have voiced their frustration, calling this requirement unnecessary and burdensome. They claim that the new process delays renewals and leads to corruption, as vehicle owners are often forced to rely on dealers or RTO agents for assistance. Many believe this situation is slowing down the system and creating more hurdles for those in the transport sector.

What Are BS-IV and BS-VI Norms?

BS-IV and BS-VI refer to the Bharat Stage (BS) emission standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board. Under Rule 118 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), all commercial vehicles, except auto rickshaws and quadricycles, must be equipped with speed governors to limit speeds to below 80 km/hr. 

This rule has been enforced since October 2015. Older vehicles use external speed governors, while newer models have an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) to regulate speed.

The Vahan System's Role

To renew a fitness certificate, vehicle owners now need to update detailed SLD information on the Vahan system. This includes the unique identification number, fitment dates, and test report numbers.

Without these details, fitness certificates cannot be generated, leaving many BS-IV and BS-VI vehicles in a state of limbo. This issue is especially problematic for vehicles that were due for fitness renewal in recent months.

Transporters and Officials Seek Solutions

Several vehicle owners shared their frustrations. One school bus owner from Thane noted that he has been waiting nearly 20 days for his fitness certificate due to missing SLD details. 

Other truckers reported similar problems, saying they now need to visit the RTO where their vehicle is registered just to update the SLD information, leading to wasted time and money.

Bal Malkit Singh, chairman of the Core Committee and former president of the All India Motor Transport Congress, highlighted that this problem persists despite assurances from the transport commissioner. He plans to raise the matter again with the transport department to seek a resolution.

RTO’s Response

Deputy Transport Commissioner Shallesh Kamat acknowledged the complications but explained that the requirement to update ECU details only applies to vehicles with missing or incomplete information.

On September 12, the Maharashtra transport commissioner's office directed RTOs to input detailed ECU information into the system. NIC has also been asked to make necessary changes to the Vahan system to resolve the issue.

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CMV360 Says

The delays in fitness certificate renewals due to the SLD requirement are causing frustration for commercial vehicle owners across Maharashtra. While the need for safety regulations is understandable, a more streamlined and efficient process is necessary to avoid inconveniencing transporters and creating unnecessary roadblocks.