Delhi Gets Its First Automated Vehicle Fitness Centre

In India, commercial vehicles are required to have a fitness certificate. Fitness certificate is issued to check the pollution caused by the emission of smoke from the vehicles, to maintain the vehicle in proper condition and to avoid accidents.

Recently in Delhi, The Burari transport authority has been replaced by state-of-the-art and the automated new fitness centre. All commercial goods vehicles, taxis, and public and school buses will now have to visit this new transport department facility for the annual fitness certificate.

The Reason Behind

The Burari transport authority office is visited by thousands every day for the permit, vehicle fitness tests and other paper works of different types of commercial vehicles including auto rickshaws and taxis.

Earlier this year, after receiving a barrage of complaints from commercial vehicle owners, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has decentralised the work done there and planned to open vehicle fitness test centres. However, the auto and taxi unit at Burari will continue to offer services such as registration, transfer and replacement.

The benefit to Vehicle Owners

The Burari transport authority became the “den of corruption”, as stated by Kejriwal. Automating vehicle fitness centres will ease the hassle of getting fitness certification and end corruption.

The capital’s first automated vehicle testing centre is spread over more than three acres and houses machineries for more accurate testing with almost no human intervention. The process is also becoming online, as the department will leave no scope for the involvement of touts.

A transport official, said, “No one will be allowed near the vehicles during the tests but owners can see the process through CCTV feeds while sitting in a gallery. In addition, Vehicle owners can book a date for the fitness check online and pay through net banking.”

Opportunity for private sectors

The transport department has tied up mostly with public sector banks but is trying to engage private sector ones. The vehicle fitness centre has come up in a collaboration of the Delhi government and the Union road transport ministry. Now, the Delhi government is planning to turn the Burari complex, spread over nearly 37 acres, into a driving school and an automated driving test track.

This is bringing many business opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs.