Kozhikode: The Motor Vehicles Department is set to establish 19 automatic vehicle fitness testing centers across Kerala. This initiative is based on the Central directive to fully automate the fitness testing of vehicles. The tender will be called within two weeks.

The first meeting of the internal committee for the tender process was held. Once all the conditions for the tender process are completed, the external technical committee will provide approval. The tender will also be issued for upgrading the machinery at the existing centers.

The allocation of 19 centers is part of a plan to establish two centers in each district. Once these are completed, there will be a total of 28 centers in the state.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), dealing with surface transport, has instructed that the fitness testing for heavy vehicles be fully automated from October 1. However, due to technical issues, this has not yet been accomplished, and the Motor Vehicles Department officials have indicated that they will take measures to expedite the process.

After the tender is issued, two acres of land will be allocated for each center. The new centers will commence operations with state-of-the-art equipment as specified by the Central Government. KELTRON, which operates the existing centers, along with other companies, will also participate in the tender.

Nine centers currently non-operational

None of the existing nine automatic vehicle fitness testing centers in the state are operational. Although several had been functioning, KELTRON, which was responsible for operations, had to cease operations on March 31 due to non-payment of Rs 8.5 crores for operational costs and salaries.

KELTRON officials stated that they had repeatedly requested the Motor Vehicles Department and the government to release the pending amount, but due to a lack of action, they were compelled to close down.