The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) today notified draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, which makes FASTags and a Vehicle Tracking System device mandatory for all commercial vehicles obtaining a national permit.

It further proposes to equip the front windscreen of the vehicle to be affixed with a sticker confirming fitting of the FASTag, it also stipulates additional conditions for obtaining national permit which include display of the words ‘National Permit or N/P’ in the front and rear of the vehicles in bold letters. While in the case of trailers, the words ‘N/P’ will have to be inscribed on the rear and left side of the vehicle. For tankers carrying dangerous and hazardous goods, the body will need to be in white colour and display the prescribed class label on both the sides and rear of the tanker. And the vehicle will need to be affixed with reflective tapes at the front and the rear.

No fitness certificate for new CVs
In case of new vehicles sold as fully built vehicles the proposed amendment suggests that no fitness certification shall be required at the time of registration. These vehicles will be considered for having certificate of fitness for a period of two years from the date of registration. It has also been proposed that 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.

Furthermore, in case of all goods-carrying vehicles, the amendment proposes that these vehicles will be required to carry goods in a closed body of the vehicle or container. If it is necessary to carry goods in open bodies, the goods will need to be covered using appropriate cover like tarpaulin or any other suitable material. However, goods of indivisible nature, not capable of being carried in a closed body or being covered, may be carried without cover.

The proposed amendment states that driving license and Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates can be carried in physical or digital form. The ministry has invited objection and suggestions to the proposed amendments by August 11, 2018.