Delhi to Set Up Second Automated Centre for Commercial Vehicle Testing

Delhi will soon see a major boost in its commercial vehicle testing infrastructure. The transport department will start work on the city’s second automated testing centre (ATC) near the Nand Nagri bus depot in northeast Delhi on Thursday, officials said.

At present, commercial vehicle owners in Delhi face long delays at the only existing ATC in Jhujhuli. “The single automated centre in Jhujhuli is overcrowded, and it takes days to get an appointment for testing. This forces several vehicles registered in Delhi to get tested and renew their permits from other states. While this is a hassle for the vehicle owners, it is also causing losses to the department,” said an official.

Delhi has nearly 450,000 commercial vehicles; trucks, buses, cabs, and goods carriers, that require annual testing. The Jhujhuli centre can handle only around 200,000 vehicles a year. Because of this gap, many commercial transport operators go outside Delhi to test their vehicles.

The new ATC, when completed, will be able to test up to 72,000 vehicles per year. It will have four testing lanes, which will allow four commercial vehicles to be checked at the same time. Construction is expected to finish within two to three months and will cost about ₹2.5 crore.

Officials said the centre will help reduce delays and ease congestion at Jhujhuli. It will also prevent revenue losses. At least ₹3 crore is expected to return to Delhi’s coffers, which currently goes to other states where permits are being renewed.

Last year, the central government made it mandatory for states to issue permits only through automated testing. The rule has increased pressure on Delhi’s lone facility. The law also permits vehicle owners to test and get permits outside the state of registration.

With this new facility, Delhi aims to improve the experience for owners of commercial trucks, commercial buses, and other commercial vehicles. It will also strengthen the city’s capacity to manage its growing commercial transport sector.

• Stay updated with 91trucks for more articles and news.
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
• Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.