Thiruvananthapuram: Vehicle owners in the city are facing mounting frustration due to an ongoing technical glitch at the Thiruvananthapuram Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Kerala, which has prevented the acceptance of fees for fitness tests for the past two weeks.

The issue, believed to be linked to a software error, has left many unable to proceed with mandatory vehicle inspections. While RTO officials are reportedly advising complainants to make payments at nearby RTO offices before visiting, this arrangement has not been formally communicated to all. As a result, many vehicle owners arrive unaware, only to face delays and confusion.

Intermediaries seem to be informed of the workaround, but individuals trying to pay the fees directly are often kept in the dark until they enquire at the office after long waits.

Vehicles registered under the Thiruvananthapuram office are required to undergo fitness tests at the automated testing centre in Muttathara. However, with this facility remaining non-functional for an extended period, inspections are currently being conducted manually.

Despite a central government mandate requiring automated vehicle fitness testing from 1 April, implementation across Kerala remains stalled. Since Muttathara had previously hosted an automated testing facility, the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways adjusted the central software accordingly. This change is believed to have triggered the current glitch affecting Thiruvananthapuram and eight other locations with similar histories of automation.