Staying Roadworthy

The third symposium hosted by iCAT and AppPlus focused on the importance of roadworthy CVs.

- Sukhpreet Singh

Along with the new axle norms, the Central Government also changed the fitness test schedule of CVs to every two years from the earlier one year. In the wake of the changes like the new axle norms, which are said to have pushed the GVW of almost all the CVs by a considerable margin, the subject of road worthiness, and if the existing vehicles can cope with the ability to carry additional load in gathering momentum. It is in the backdrop of such development, that the third symposium organised by iCAT, and supported by AppPlus, delved on the subject of the ‘road worthiness of commercial vehicles through inspection and certification’ at Delhi recently. Attracting over 150 delegates with an acute focus on improving road safety through intensive inspection of existing CVs by the inspection centres on a regular basis, Dinesh Tyagi, Director, iCAT, in his opening address, expressed the need to upgrade the existing inspection and certification centres in India in the interest of the improving road safety. “The current inspection and certification system does not suffice for elaborate safety related checks in any of the categories owing to lack of proper infrastructure to carry out such inspection,” he asserted. Stressing upon the need for proper implementation of the inspection regime to reduce the risk of road fatalities as well as traffic congestion caused by vehicle breakdowns, Tyagi mentioned, “There is a need to have automated mandatory checks for all vehicles. The checks should include the braking system, headlights, steering system, suspension system and undercarriage parts other than tailpipe emissions.” Emphasising on the need to create a nationwide network of inspection and certification centres that will ensure that the existing vehicles have all their systems and components in proper working condition, Tyagi averred, “The vision of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to pursue automated test lanes in t