Telangana: Automated vehicle fitness centre delayed

Hyderabad: The negligence of the Telangana transport department is delaying the Centre’s Fully Automated Vehicle Fitness Centre project at Dandu Malkapur on the city’s outskirts. The centre can issue fitness certificates after accurate computerised checking to around 30 vehicles an hour.

During the UPA period, the Centre had sanctioned fully automated fitness centres in various parts of the country, including Dandu Malkapur in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district, to check corruption during vehicle fitness tests. 

The Centre okayed Rs 14.1 crore for each unit. The fitness units have now started functioning in Nasik in Maharashtra, Rohtak in Haryana, Udaipur in Rajasthan, Bengaluru, Surat and Chinwad in MP. 

The 2014 general elections delayed the unit at Dandu Malkapur. Before that the administration was under President rule and the fitness centre got delayed. Later, the Telangana government delayed in writing letters to the Centre regarding funds. However, transport minister Patnam Mahender Reddy laid the foundation stone of the fitness centre on June 10, 2015 and works began. So far the administration building and the ramp for fitness tests have been completed.

A source from the transport department said the delay in getting an electricity connection was delaying works. Nalgonda district transport officer M. Chandrashekar Goud said there was a problem with bills from the Centre and the contractor delayed works. "Recently, the Centre sanctioned funds for electricity and other infrastructure. We began works from Wednesday. The government will import sophisticated equipment from Spain for the centre," he said.

Meanwhile, the Congress government sanctioned a 'Semi Automated Vehicle Fitness Centre' at Secunderabad for the Khairatabad RTO but due to lack of infrastructure officials are utilising it only partially.

An official said there was only a testing ramp and equipment for checking pollution levels, engine RMP, air etc. “The remaining tests are done manually under the supervision of a Motor Vehicle Inspector,” the official said.

Accurate tests

•  The Fully Automated Vehicle Fitness Checking Unit conducts tests on headlights, steering, engine, breaks, PUC, suspensions, engine RPM, gear box, fuel efficiency, wheel   condition etc.
•  Based on the   computerised test results officials    issue fitness certificates
• The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) will maintain the 
• unit for the first two years and later local transport officials would have do the maintenance
•  The fitness centre will have equipment from Spain
•  The fitness testing unit can test 30 vehicles an hour