RTO officials get devices to check vehicle fitness

Sources in the transport department said the distribution of the tablets has started across the State. The first such distribution of tablets has started in the Coimbatore zone covering Coimbatore, Tirupur and the Nilgiris districts. “Already the tablets were provided to the inspectors and RTOs in Central, West, North, South, Pollachi and Mettupalayam RTOs,” the sources added.

According to an RTO official, with the provision of the tablet, the motor vehicle inspector would be able to access the fitness certificate application through Vahan website and take photographs of the vehicles in five different angles and upload it along with the application.

“Then the application would be processed and the fitness certificate issued at the earliest,” the official said, adding it would be easier to maintain records of the vehicles. “We will be able to access the vehicle’s fitness certificate along with photographs of the vehicle at the time of renewal of the FC,” the official added.

A trucker on condition of anonymity said the provision of the tablet would also avoid irregularities in the issuance of the fitness certificate. “During the renewal of FC, the inspectors often demand bribe and reject the application if the money was not paid. Now the condition of the vehicle could be viewed online,” he said.

A senior transport department official said tablets would put an end to the charges of the inspectors issuing the fitness certificate without even checking the vehicles. “Five angles of the vehicles should be mandatorily photographed at the time of inspection,” he noted.