Union Government issues draft amendments to Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989

Union Government issues draft amendments to Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989: Detailed Highlights

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on 18th July 2018 notified the draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, making FASTags and Vehicle Tracking System device compulsory for all commercial vehicles obtaining a national permit.

The Ministry invited suggestions and objections to the proposed amendments by 11th August 2018.

Proposed amendments to Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989

FASTags: It makes mandatory for vehicles to affix sticker confirming fitting of the Fastag in front windscreen of vehicles.

National Permit (N/P): It stipulates additional conditions for obtaining a national permit. It also includes display of words ‘National Permit or N/P’ in front and rear of vehicles in bold letters. N/P will have to be inscribed on rear and left side incase of trailers.

Tanker carrying dangerous or hazardous goods: Its body has to be painted in white colour and display prescribed class label on both sides and rear of a tanker. It should be also affixed with reflective tapes at front and rear.

Fitness certification: It will be not required at the time of registration of new transport vehicles sold as fully built vehicles. Such vehicles will be deemed to be having a certificate of fitness for a period of two years from the date of registration. Fitness certificate of transport vehicles will be renewed for a period of two years for vehicles up to eight years old and for one year for vehicles older than eight years.

Digital Certificates: Henceforth, pollution under control certificates and driving license can be carried in physical or digital form.

Goods carrying vehicles: They will be required to carry goods in a closed body of the vehicle or container. In case it is necessary to carry goods in open bodies, then goods will be covered by using tarpaulin or any other suitable material. Goods of indivisible nature, not capable of being carried in a closed body or being covered, may be carried without cover.

Load Carrying Capacity: The gross vehicle weight (GVW) for two-axle truck (two wheels in front axle and four wheels in the rear) has been raised from 16.2 tonnes to 18.5 tonnes, for three-axle trucks it has been increased from 25 tonnes to 28.5 tonnes; and for five-axle trucks from 37 tonnes to 43.5 tonnes. This will help reduce transportation (logistic) cost and consequently, commodity prices. Overloading is very rampant which will be stopped to an extent along with corruption.