Five month extension to mandatory testing of commercial vehicles through automated testing stations

The Road Transport Ministry has given a five month extension to mandatory testing of commercial vehicles through automated testing stations. An official statement said the date for mandatory testing is now notified as October 1, 2024. “It is also mandated that fitness testing of the vehicle shall be done only through automated testing station.” These automated testing stations (ATS) need to be registered and operational in the jurisdiction of a registering authority.

Fitness certificates can be extended by two years for vehicles up to eight years old, and one year for vehicles older than eight years. In April last year the centre said that heavy, medium, and light goods or passenger vehicles should mandatorily be vetted at automated testing stations from June 1, 2024 onwards.

ET had first reported about a decision to relax the deadline in March this year. The move is to be seen in light of present status of readiness of the ATS across the country. Currently there are just 24 ATS in the country with nine of them being in Gujarat.