Transport Workers Demand Manual Fitness Centers Amid Automated Testing Woes in Assam

Transport Workers Demand Manual Fitness Centers Amid Automated Testing Woes in Assam

Transport operators in Assam have made an urgent appeal to the state transport department. They want manual vehicle fitness testing centers restored temporarily at district levels. This request comes from the Motor Parivahan Sewakarmi Sonmilita Manch, a united forum of motor transport workers.

Operators Cite Severe Challenges with Automated System

In a formal letter submitted to the transport commissioner, operators detailed their concerns. They highlighted severe logistical, financial, and safety challenges. These issues stem directly from the shift to automated testing stations, known as ATS.

Operators acknowledged the central government's policy to modernize vehicle fitness certification. They welcomed this move toward automation in principle. However, they pointed out a critical infrastructure gap that makes implementation problematic.

Inadequate ATS Infrastructure Across Assam

The existing ATS infrastructure is grossly inadequate according to transport representatives. It cannot handle the volume of vehicles seeking fitness renewals across the state. Currently, only six automated testing stations operate throughout Assam.

These stations serve vehicles registered under thirty-two district transport offices. The operational ATS locations include Jorhat, South Salmara, Rangiya, and Biswanath Chariali districts. Each station faces significant capacity limitations.

Rabindra Kumar Dutta, president of the Greater Guwahati Tourist Taxi Association, provided specific numbers. Each automated testing station can test approximately thirty to forty vehicles daily. Even with extended working hours and increased bandwidth, this number might reach sixty to seventy vehicles at maximum.

"According to rough estimates, about two hundred vehicles need fitness renewal daily in each of the thirty-two DTOs," Dutta explained. "This takes the total to nearly six thousand four hundred vehicles daily across Assam."

Massive Gap Between Demand and Testing Capacity

The mathematics reveals a serious problem. With only six automated testing stations operating, each ATS would need to handle about one thousand sixty-six vehicles daily. This number is practically impossible given current testing capabilities.

"It is not clear how the department plans to manage such a large number with so few testing centers," Dutta stated. "This gap would inevitably lead to long delays and significant backlogs."

Transport operators emphasize that the current situation creates multiple difficulties. Vehicle owners face extended waiting periods for fitness renewals. The financial burden increases as vehicles remain idle. Safety concerns emerge when vehicles operate without timely certification.

The Motor Parivahan Sewakarmi Sonmilita Manch has proposed a practical solution. They urge temporary restoration of manual testing centers at district levels. This measure would bridge the gap until automated testing infrastructure expands sufficiently.

Operators believe this approach maintains modernization goals while addressing immediate practical challenges. It allows the transition to automated systems to proceed without disrupting essential transport services across Assam.

The transport department now faces a decision. They must balance technological advancement with ground realities. Thousands of vehicle owners await a resolution that ensures both efficiency and accessibility in fitness certification processes.