Vijayawada: The state govt has given green signal for private players to set up automatic vehicle fitness testing stations. The state government reportedly turned down the proposal of the transport department to deploy motor vehicle inspectors (MVIs) in the private stations and allowed private operators to handle the business independently.
The issue has been hanging in balance for the past two months since transport principal secretary Kantilal Dande put the pilot project of private vehicle fitness station on hold. He raised objection that such private players could be allowed to operate only with the permission of the finance department. After taking required clarification, the finance department stamped its nod to allow the private players to set up automatic fitness stations across the state.
The transport department once again raised its objection by pointing out that the entry of private players into vehicle fitness certification might compromise the safety of commuters. The transport department wanted private stations to be brought under the control of the department so that they could effectively manage the safety protocols. Transport minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy too defended the argument to deploy the MVIs in private stations.
Sources said that a senior official informed the chief minister that deployment of officials from transport department in private stations would not only compromise on their autonomy but also prevent flow of investments into the sector. He is reported to have argued that private firms would bring huge investment for setting up automatic vehicle testing stations with advanced technologies and such facilities would prevent corruption in the department.
Taking the feedback into consideration, the government rejected the transport department’s proposal to bring the ATS into transport department purview. The government, sources said, was of the view that there was no need for MVIs to inspect private stations which would be built with modern technology.
