An inquiry into the functioning of private Automated Testing Stations (ATSs) has uncovered major irregularities in the vehicle fitness certification process across the state.
According to sources in the transport department, several ATSs issued fitness certificates to passenger and goods vehicles without physically checking them. This has raised major safety concerns.
The committee found that some of these stations handed out certificates without even calling the vehicles for inspection. In some cases, instead of filing formal complaints against the ATSs, the matter was settled quietly by imposing fines and temporary suspensions. “The matter was suppressed in the name of penalties and suspensions,” said a source.
While the transport department strictly penalises ordinary citizens, using high-end technology like the e-detection system for even minor traffic violations, it appears to go soft on private testing centres certifying unfit vehicles. “Strict legal action has been avoided against these private ATSs despite clear evidence,” said a senior official in the department.
Earlier, all commercial vehicles-such as luxury buses, school buses, trucks, ambulances and taxis-were inspected for fitness directly at RTO offices. New vehicles undergo fitness tests every two years for the first eight years and annually thereafter. Fitness testing, especially for goods and passenger vehicles, is crucial as it includes checking the chassis, engine, load capacity and braking system. Allowing such unfit vehicles on public roads can be risky.
However, over the last two years, this responsibility has been handed over to private ATSs. There are more than 50 such centres across Gujarat. There have been complaints that these centres were giving certificates without vehicle inspections. A probe into around two dozen such stations found ongoing malpractice. “Issuing fitness certificates to unfit vehicles is like inviting accidents,” said a retired senior official of the department. “The report found irregularities, yet no action was taken.”
Recently, a complaint was filed at Chiloda police station against SS Stone ATS in Gandhinagar. Assistant RTO Dilip Vankar, who registered the FIR, said, “We have filed a complaint for irregularities against SS Stone. The matter is now in court.” Shockingly, the order to file this complaint had been issued a year earlier.
Similar violations were found at a testing station in East Ahmedabad. Although the Transport Commissioner’s office had instructed the Vastral RTO to file a police complaint, no such action was taken. KD Parmar, RTO at Vastral, stated, “Last year, irregularities were detected at Yogeshwar Soni ATS in Bakrol. A police complaint was ordered, but instead, the station was merely suspended for six months.”