The move to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1989 (CMV) to enhance the periodicity of subjecting transport vehicles to Certificate of Fitness (CF) test has come in for flak, as it is feared that it will jeopardise road safety and cause revenue loss to the exchequer.
The draft rules notified by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) come close on the heels of the Central gazette notification of August 6 increasing the axle load of goods vehicles. The increase in axle load by 25%, without taking into account design parameters, will badly affect the mechanical condition of goods vehicles and cause wear and tear to roads.
The amendment to the CMV Rule 62 sub-rule (1) clause (b) says the period for renewal of CF will be two years for vehicles registered up to eight years ago and one year for vehicles registered more than eight years ago.
A new provision has been included in sub-rule (1) that says that CF is not needed up to two years from the date of registration for transport vehicles sold as fully built ones.
Earlier, CF for transport vehicles, including autorickshaws, vans, taxies, ambulances, and all contract and stage carriers, had to be carried out every six months. But it was made one year when the CMV came into effect in 1989.
A top official of the Motor Vehicles Department told The Hindu that with the new rule, the chances for accidents and fatalities and breakdowns of vehicles could not be ruled out.
The CF tests give the MVD a chance to know if the vehicle has mechanical defects.
