Ahmedabad: After a temporary suspension that left more than 50,000 vehicle fitness applications pending across Gujarat, the state government has decided to resume fitness certification for private two-wheelers and cars at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) from Monday, July 13, until Automated Testing Stations (ATS) are established.

Fitness inspections at RTOs had been stopped in phases from May 8 after the Central Government issued new rules mandating automated fitness testing and revised fitness fees. Since the Gujarat government had not notified the new system, RTOs halted the process to avoid audit objections and legal complications arising from collecting the old fees and implementing the revised rates.

The suspension created a large backlog of applications and also affected vehicle owners, many of whom were unable to renew their insurance due to the absence of a valid fitness certificate.

With the resumption of services, vehicle owners will have to pay the revised fitness charges. The fitness fee for private two-wheelers has been increased from Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 2,500, while the fee for private cars has risen sharply from Rs. 5,200 to Rs. 13,500.

Under existing rules, private vehicles must obtain a fitness certificate after completing 15 years from the date of registration and every five years thereafter.

According to a circular issued by the Office of the Transport Commissioner, the Rs. 50 per day late fee will not be levied on vehicles appearing for their first fitness test. However, if vehicle owners delay subsequent fitness renewals beyond the prescribed period, the late fee will be applicable as per the rules.

Officials expect the decision to help clear the backlog of over 50,000 pending applications. RTOs, including Subhash Bridge, Vastral, Bavla, and Gandhinagar, have made special arrangements to process the pending cases at the earliest.

Meanwhile, the fitness testing of commercial vehicles will continue to be conducted through Automated Testing Stations (ATS), in accordance with the existing system. DeshGujarat