Dehradun. The graph of accidents in the district has been steadily increasing, but the Transport Department is not ready to leave the ‘magic wand’ of the vehicles fitness check. Vehicle unfits are often found in technical investigation of accidents, but be surprised to find that they have a ‘fit’ certificate from the Transport Department. Perhaps this is the ‘game of connivance’. To prevent this, in 2009 the then government approved a proposal to build an automated testing lane in Rishikesh, but the construction could not be completed even in the last 11 years. In this interval, its budget also doubled from three crore rupees.
The condition is that in less than half an hour the fitness test of a vehicle takes place, the Transport Department examines about 25 vehicles with the ‘magic wand’ and gives the green signal. This ‘game’ has been going on for years in RTO and ARTO offices, but the government is not serious about it. The extent is that the faster the registration of new vehicles is going on in the transport offices, the faster the fitness check-up of old vehicles is being done. The situation is that the transport workers are not even aware of the fitness standards. A certificate of fit or unfit is being handed over to the vehicle only by physical examination.
If we look at the police figures, from January 1 to October 31 this year, 87 people were killed and 156 people were injured in a total of 191 accidents. In the investigation of accidents, the reasons remained overloading or overspeed, but during this time there were also cases of accident due to vehicle failure. However, the number of accidents due to vehicle failure is not very worrying, but of all the accidents that happened from such vehicles, six to ten people per vehicle lost their lives. These include utility, max and private buses.
When will Rishikesh testing lane be completed
A proposal to build automated testing lanes in Rishikesh was approved to curb accidents in the Chardham Yatra and to make arrangements. For this, the forest department land at Bibiwala on Shyampur bypass was also transferred to the transport department. The tender process started, but the matter did not proceed thereafter. Neither the department took interest, nor the government. Thousands of vehicles reach Rishikesh daily during the Chardham Yatra, but in the name of fitness, a physical certificate is given to them and a fitness certificate is handed over. The job is to be computerized in the automated testing lane.
Unfit in the morning fit in the evening
The RTO also has a large network of brokers working in fitness investigations. Vehicles that are said to be unfit in the morning, the network of brokers gives them a ‘Perfect’ certificate by evening.
Fitness standards
- Vehicle engine and accelerator test
- Steering lock check
- Indicators, wipers, reflectors, brakes and towers tested
- Checking the driver cabin partitions, head light etc. as per vehicle
- Private vehicles have to undergo fitness tests in 15 years
- It is mandatory to bring commercial vehicles for vehicle RTO for examination every year
- Fitness check compulsory for commercial vehicles of mountain area every six months
Dinesh Chandra Pathoi (RTO Dehradun) said that vehicles are being physically tested right now. The vehicles are examined and given a fitness certificate. Testing lane in Rishikesh will be completed soon.
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