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The Transport Department will file an affidavit on Wednesday with the Bombay High Court, submitting the findings of an independent automobile agency towards the adequate length of a test track. An adequate length expected to be covered is yet to be decided for issuance of an annual fitness certificate for taxis, confirmed officials.
The higher court had put a stay on four Regional Transport Offices (RTO) in the state, including city’s Mumbai Central RTO which has around 30,000 taxis registered under it, to refrain from issuing the fitness certificate till the track length needed to cover was officially decided.
With the Central Motor Vehicle Rules and Motor Vehicle Act not having defined the adequate length of test track, officials said the court will now consider the fresh findings.
Every day, on an average, 100 taxis come for annual fitness certificates to Regional Transport Office (RTO). The RTOs have been refrained from giving the certificate for want of better infrastructure. Senior transport authorities refused to comment on the findings and the stay, saying the matter was sub-judice.
The transport department had approached the Automotive Research Association of India, Pune to probe the track length. Meanwhile, authorities have identified a Mumbai Port Trust road near Reay Road station and a service road near Godrej in Vikhroli to conduct annual fitness tests if the stay continues.
Following a Public Interest Litigation filed by Pune-based activist Shrikant Karve seeking a direction to RTOs to follow the rules of the Motor Vehicle Act, the High Court on February 28 had asked all the RTOs in the state to comply with the rules.
During the court proceedings it was observed that a track length of 400 metre was adequate for test track. According to RTO authorities the test track is only 250 metre long at Mumbai Central. Not everyone is happy with the suggested length. If the taxi driver is unable to renew his fitness certificate on the date it expires, he is liable to pay a fine of Rs 1,000. After ten days of expiry of the fitness, he will have to pay a fine of Rs 100 every day until he gets the certificate renewed, according to authorities.
Even if a taxi driver, with an expired annual fitness certificate is caught plying, he will be liable for a fine of Rs 2,000, said an official.
RTO warns against submission of fake documents
The Andheri RTO has issued a warning to lottery winners to restrain from providing bogus birth, education or other essential certificates while submitting documents for auto permit. Orders to take criminal action against such offenders have been issued, confirmed a senior official.
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