Thiruvananthapuram: It has been found that fitness certificates were issued by a private automated fitness testing centre in Bihar for vehicles that never left the state of Kerala. The certificates were issued for five vans to vehicles, which are used by a private company in Kochi to dispense money at ATMs. The fitness certificates were granted without the vehicles being properly inspected or repaired, leading to the cancellation of the certificates.
The central government recently approved the establishment of private vehicle fitness inspection centres. These centres are permitted to inspect vehicles from any state, but the inspection process must be conducted in compliance with regulations. In this case, the vehicles in question were registered in Kerala but received fitness certificates from a centre located in Bihar without undergoing the necessary inspections or repairs.
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Investigation uncovers fraudulent activity
A special squad from the Kerala Transport Commissioner’s office conducted an investigation after receiving a tip-off. Upon reviewing toll records, it was revealed that the vehicles had not left Kerala and had even paid tolls the day after the fitness certificates were issued. This indicates that the vehicles had not undergone the required inspection in Bihar, raising concerns about possible fraudulent activities.
There are concerns that this fraudulent practice could extend to other types of vehicles, such as interstate buses and lorries. In such cases, fitness certificates may be issued without actual inspections, possibly facilitated by middlemen. The Transport Commissioner has announced that a report will be submitted to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to investigate more on the issue.
Importance of regular vehicle fitness tests
Vehicle fitness tests are essential for identifying and fixing technical issues to ensure safety on the roads. Some individuals may be attempting to bypass the necessary repairs by seeking shortcuts to avoid the financial costs associated with proper maintenance.
To improve vehicle fitness testing, seven new private centres will be established across Kerala. However, for now, inspections are still being conducted by inspectors from the state’s Motor Vehicles Department.
Published: 24 Jan 2025, 09:27 am IST
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