Pune RTO Halts Commercial Vehicle Fitness Tests

Fitness tests for commercial vehicles in Pune and surrounding districts have been halted once again due to the unavailability of automated testing stations (ATS). The Centre’s new mandate requires all commercial vehicle fitness tests to be conducted only at ATS, but Pune currently lacks these facilities.

Earlier, the state government temporarily allowed manual testing at the Dive Ghat facility after transporters threatened protests. However, since March 3, testing has been stopped entirely, leaving thousands of commercial vehicles stranded without valid fitness certificates.

Thousands of Vehicles Await Fitness Certification

At the Dive Ghat facility, manual testing of 750–800 vehicles was being conducted daily, covering trucks, buses, and other commercial vehicles. With testing halted, an estimated 7,500–8,000 vehicles are now waiting for certification. Transporters have expressed concern that the number of pending vehicles will continue to grow if the issue is not addressed promptly.

Baba Shinde, president of Maharashtra State Vahan Chalak Malak Mahasangh, stated that the uncertainty is causing operational and financial difficulties for commercial vehicle owners. “We have contacted the Ministry of Road Transport and state authorities, but there is no clarity on when testing will resume,” he said.

RTO Plans for Facility Upgradation

Pune deputy RTO Swapnil Bhosle confirmed that testing has been stopped again and explained that the Dive Ghat facility is scheduled for an ATS upgrade by April. Additionally, a new facility at Alandi Road is under construction with work orders already issued.

Bhosle added that authorities have requested approval to allow fitness tests using the previous manual system until the ATS facilities are operational. The regional transport office had earlier indicated that adopting the ATS system fully in Pune could take two to three months.

Transporters Face Operational Challenges

Truck and goods vehicle operators are struggling due to the lack of fitness certificates. Vehicles without certification cannot move legally, and fines of up to Rs. 10,000 can be imposed. Insurance claims would not be valid in case of accidents involving uncertified vehicles. Transporters have appealed to RTO officials to exercise leniency during this transition.

Key challenges faced by transporters include:

• Thousands of vehicles stranded without fitness certificates
• Daily financial losses due to idle trucks and goods vehicles
• Risk of heavy fines of Rs. 10,000 per vehicle
• Insurance coverage void if accidents occur without certificates
• Delays in deliveries affecting supply chains and trade
• Prolonged uncertainty due to slow ATS implementation
• Previous issues with e-challan systems exacerbating the situation

Transporters criticized the implementation of the ATS rule without ensuring upgraded infrastructure. Many urged government authorities to hold RTO officials accountable instead of penalizing vehicle owners who are unable to comply due to systemic issues.