Latest news with #CentralMotorVehiclesRules
News18
3 days ago
- Automotive
- News18
Meghalaya cracks down on illegal vehicle alterations
Agency: PTI Shillong, Aug 6 (PTI) The Meghalaya transport department has issued a 60-day deadline to owners of goods vehicles to reverse unauthorised body modifications or face strict legal action under motor vehicle laws, officials said on Wednesday. In a notice, the department said it had observed several instances of light, medium, and heavy goods vehicles operating with illegal alterations, including extended length, width, and height, carried out without approval from the registering authority and beyond manufacturer-approved dimensions. 'These modifications are a blatant breach of Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, and Rule 93 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989," the department stated. It warned that such changes not only compromise the structural integrity of vehicles but also pose serious risks to road safety. A senior motor vehicle inspector (MVI) said many of the modified vehicles have poor stability, flawed load distribution, and weakened frames. 'We've seen trucks with grossly extended platforms that throw the vehicle's balance off and increase chances of overturning, especially on hilly roads," the MVI told PTI on condition of anonymity. 'This is not just a regulatory issue, it's a threat to life," he added. 'These vehicles do not pass through any technical inspection once the body is built. Most are fitted in local workshops with no engineering oversight," he said. The department has directed owners who purchased chassis-only vehicles, commonly used for trucks and buses, to obtain prior approval of body specifications from the district transport officer before constructing any bodywork. All owners who have already carried out unauthorised modifications have been ordered to restore the vehicles to their original dimensions within 60 days of the notice. Failure to comply will invite prosecution under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act, officials said. Fleet operators, transporters, and individual vehicle owners have also been advised to strictly adhere to central motor vehicle rules to avoid punitive measures. 'The industry needs to understand that shortcuts on compliance end up costing lives," the MVI added. PTI JOP MNB view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
01-08-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
BEST takes 100 electric cars off roads over expired fitness, insurance papers
MUMBAI: In a major lapse, the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) Undertaking has taken 100 of its 142 electric vehicles (EVs) off the roads after it was found that they were being operated without valid fitness certificates and insurance. The EVs, Tata Xpres-T sedans, were leased from a Nagpur-based private contractor for use by BEST officers and staff. BEST takes 100 electric cars off roads over expired fitness, insurance papers On Friday, BEST officials confirmed that the vehicles were 'off-roaded' pending renewal of the necessary documents. 'We have initiated action and suspended use of 100 electric cars while their fitness certificates and insurance are being renewed. The remaining 42 vehicles meet all statutory requirements. We have also sought an explanation from the contractor,' said a BEST spokesperson. Ironically, many of these EVs were used by the administration itself—including officers responsible for overseeing vehicle compliance and safety—prompting sharp criticism from staff unions. 'The administration is playing with the lives of its own employees. It's shocking that vehicles without basic documents like insurance and fitness clearance were used for official duty. Those responsible must be held accountable,' said Shashank Sharad Rao, president of the BEST Workers' Union. Sources said the vehicles in question were registered between November 2022 and June 2023, and that the responsibility for ensuring all paperwork was in order lay with the contractor. Under the 15-year lease agreement, BEST pays ₹42,400 per car per month for the first 10 years and ₹28,407 per car per month for the remaining five years. The electric sedans are primarily used by staff to attend power failure complaints, inspect depots, and for other administrative duties. According to Rule 62 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, all commercial vehicles—including electric ones—must have a valid fitness certificate. Operating a vehicle without one can attract a penalty of ₹2,000– ₹5,000 for the first offence and up to ₹10,000 or imprisonment for repeat violations. Driving uninsured vehicles also attracts fines ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹4,000.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Resolve HSRP issues faced by vehicle owners: Transport dept to dealers
1 2 Nagpur: The Maharashtra transport dept has issued a circular directing all Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) and deputy RTOs to resolve mounting issues faced by vehicle owners in affixing high security registration plates (HSRPs), especially for vehicles registered after April 1, 2019. The move comes following multiple complaints about technical difficulties and lack of cooperation from vehicle dealers. In an official communication on Wednesday, assistant transport commissioner Shailesh Kamat reminded all regional transport offices that, as per rule 50 of Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, and the Union ministry of road transport and highways notifications, HSRPs are mandatory for all vehicles registered on or after April 1, 2019. The Supreme Court too, in a March 5, 2024 order, made HSRPs compulsory for all vehicles. In reality, many vehicle owners were unable to get HSRPs due to grey areas in the registration and manufacturing timeline. A senior RTO official explained, "Some vehicles were manufactured before April 1, 2019, but registered later. Dealers then deny HSRP installation, claiming the vehicle is not eligible. The confusion escalates when a car changes ownership, state, or class — like from transport to non-transport — leading to record-mismatch. " In addition, issues are also arising with imported vehicles or those whose original number plates are damaged, lost, or stolen. "There's no database support in some cases, and both RTO and dealers bounce responsibilities between each other. Ultimately, it is the customer who suffers," the official said. To address this, the transport dept has asked RTOs to work closely with official vehicle dealers and distributors. Dealers have been instructed to resolve all HSRP-related problems, including those concerning re-fits and replacements. "All these responsibilities — whether due to breakage, theft, or technical mismatch — must be handled by the dealers," the circular states. This directive is expected to bring relief to thousands of vehicle owners caught in procedural limbo and ensure faster compliance with national safety norms.
Hindustan Times
31-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Low speed limit key in draft regulations for e-rickshaws
New Delhi: The Union ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) has issued a draft notification proposing stricter regulations for e-rickshaws and e-carts, including a mandatory fitness certificate, similar to other transport vehicles, and a cap on speed limit to 25 km per hour from the existing 30kph. Low speed limit key in draft regulations for e-rickshaws The draft notification published on July 22 proposes enacting these regulations by modifying the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The ministry has sought comments and feedback from the public on the draft rules till August 22. The rules also mandate all e-rickshaws and e-carts to be equipped with lithium-ion battery packs that meet the performance requirements outlined in AIS-156 as updated from time to draft rules propose that all e-rickshaws and e-carts must comply with updated construction and safety standards. 'On and after 1st April 2026, all manufacturers of Erickshaw and E-cart, as part of the type approval procedure, shall undergo an audit of their manufacturing facilities and process, to establish quality control. The audit shall be done by the test agency, undertaking the type approval process of E-rickshaw and E-cart,' the draft read. They will be subjected to audits of their manufacturing facilities and processes from April 1, 2026. However, manufacturers with International Automotive Task Force (IATF) certification or equivalent will be exempt from this audit process and will only have to comply with document verification, according to the draft notification. Currently, e-rickshaws, unlike conventional autorickshaws, do not require to be registered as a motorised vehicle in many Indian states and were exempt from Motor Vehicles Act provisions until 2015. Presently due to lack of adequate regulatory framework, vehicles often run of lead-acid batteries which pose a fire safety risk. The proposed regulations, aimed at enhancing safety and standardising manufacturing processes, come at a time when Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari has been publicly speaking about safety and longevity issues involving e-rickshaws, which have become a ubiquitous last-mile connectivity option in rural and urban areas alike. The number of e-rickshaws are estimated to be 1.81 million in number across India till November 2024, according to a WRI-India report based on the government's Vahan database. Reacting to this draft notification, Piyush Tewari, Founder and CEO, SaveLIFE Foundation, said e-rickshaws form the backbone of last-mile transport but often operate without adequate safety oversight. 'Given their structural vulnerabilities and the high exposure of passengers, instituting basic fitness standards is essential,' he said. Tewari added that reducing the speed limit from 30 km/h to 25 km/h is a prudent move. 'Even minor speed reductions can significantly lower crash severity, particularly in dense urban environments,' he said.
Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
After Centre's nod, UP to launch AI-based road safety system
LUCKNOW Uttar Pradesh will introduce an AI-based system to reduce road accidents and improve enforcement efficiency through big-data analytics following a formal no-objection from the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) in this regard. This is the first AI-driven road safety experiment ever undertaken by a state transport department in India, said transport commissioner Brajesh Narain Singh. (Pic for representation) This is the first AI-driven road safety experiment ever undertaken by a state transport department in India, said transport commissioner Brajesh Narain Singh. 'The pilot project will be executed at zero cost by public sector enterprise ITI Limited in collaboration with global tech firm mLogica. MoRTH has clarified that the initiative must adhere to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, and all e-enforcement Standard Operating Procedures, while incurring no financial liability to the Centre,' he said. The state has allocated ₹10 crore in its 2025–26 budget to support a broader 'data-driven administrative model' for the transport department, with this pilot laying the foundation. The initial prototype of the model, scheduled for six weeks, will integrate data from multiple sources - accident records, weather feeds, vehicle telematics, driver profiles and roadway attributes - to build AI models that pinpoint root causes of accidents, forecast black spots and generate realtime policy dashboards. If successful, the AI engine will be expanded across core departmental functions including faceless licensing, permit issuance, enforcement, revenue collection and the Vahan–Sarathi digital platforms, positioning UP as a national leader in transport-tech governance. 'This initiative will place UP at the forefront of data-driven governance. By integrating the AI model beyond road safety into every core function of the department, we aim to make our state a national trail-blazer in technological innovation,' said Singh. The AI system will power predictive alerts for tax dues, document validity and traffic violations, helping officials act in real time. It will also drive fraud detection, vehicle mapping and auto-scoring of risks — ultimately bringing all transport data under a single digital view to sharpen enforcement, enhance transparency and improve public service delivery. The ITI–mLogica team has been authorised to begin work immediately with the department's IT, enforcement and Road Safety wings. A final report will be submitted to MoRTH upon completion, with continuous audits on legal compliance, data privacy and cyber security. 'We expect the project to result in a measurable drop in road crashes, streamlined enforcement and faster, safer transport services for citizens,' the transport commissioner said.
