AHMEDABAD: Almost all 16 automatic fitness centers for heavy goods and passenger vehicles in Gujarat are facing action from the state transport department for irregularities in issuing certificates. On January 5, TOI had reported that the Center had issued fitness certificates to dilapidated vehicles from Rajasthan based on doctored images, among other things. Following the allegations, notices have been issued to all 16 centres, 15 of which are currently facing license suspension, for allegedly morphing images of vehicles to make them look ‘appropriate’. There is a possibility that a complaint will be filed with the police regarding the three centers identified. Regarding road tax data, the department conducted one-on-one hearings with center operators. Based on their statements, license suspension orders were issued. An official said, “After a public hearing, the Department of Transportation discovered the wrongdoing, and all but one center will have their licenses suspended for six months starting on the 15th.” Three centers where he was found to be morphing images could be prosecuted by the police. ” The investigation found that many vehicles in Rajasthan were getting certificates from centers in Gujarat despite having fitness testing centers nearby. Interestingly, analysis of CCTV footage and his FASTag records of toll plazas showed that many of the vehicles issued with certificates had never entered Gujarat. Some were in another state on the day the certificate was issued. The trick was simple. The center requested photos of heavy vehicles and owners shared photoshopped images to obtain fitness certificates. After checking the permit and road tax data, it was found that these vehicles did not have temporary permission to enter Gujarat nor did they pay road tax and received the certificate without undergoing any physical inspection. It was proven that As against the fixed fee of Rs 200 to Rs 600 for the inspection fee, depending on the size of the car, the Center charged Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 for issuing the compliance certificate. “In many cases, the vehicles did not even have fast tags. How did he operate in Gujarat when all heavy vehicles registered here are required to have FASTags? Is that so?” said the official. Some of the vehicles were so unwell that they were unable to travel to Gujarat, but health certificates were issued nonetheless.
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