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Amendments Proposed to Central Motor Vehicles Rules
Why in the news ?
- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified draft amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
Proposed Amendments
- Fastags and Vehicle Tracking System to be Made Mandatory for All National Permit Commercial Vehicles.
- The front wind screen of the vehicle will have to be affixed with a sticker confirming fitting of the Fastag.
- The draft amendments also stipulate other additional conditions for obtaining national permit that include display of the words “National Permit or N/P” in the front and rear of the vehicles in bold letters.
- In case of trailers, the words “N/P” will have to be inscribed on the rear and left side of the vehicle.
- The body of a tanker carrying dangerous or hazardous goods has to be painted in white colour and display the prescribed class label on both the sides and rear of the tanker.
- The vehicle will be affixed with reflective tapes at front and rear.
- The proposed amendment also provides that no fitness certification shall be required at the time of registration for new transport vehicles sold as fully built vehicles.
- Such vehicles will be deemed to be 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.
- The proposed amendment also provides that Driving License and Pollution Under Control certificates can be carried in physical or digital form.
What is FASTtag ?
- A FASTag is a device that employs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for making toll payments directly from the prepaid or savings account linked to it.
- It is affixed on the windscreen of the vehicle and enables the commuter to drive through toll plazas, without stopping for cash transactions.
- FASTag has a validity of five years and after purchasing it, one only needs to recharge/top up the FASTag as per the requirement.
- The major advantages of having a FASTag include no need to carry cash for the toll transactions.
- It is time-saving and non-stop movement of vehicles leading to lower fuel cost among others.
- As a user crosses a toll plaza, the toll amount is deducted automatically.
- The user receives SMS alerts for toll transactions, low balance and all other developments.
Source
PIB, The Hindu