Maharashtra: Commercial vehicle fitness certification halted across state after MoRTH directive

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Fitness certificate issuance and renewal for commercial vehicles has come to a complete standstill across several districts of Maharashtra. The situation triggered a major operational and financial crisis for the transport sector.

This disruption follows a directive issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) on December 26, 2025, which led to the withdrawal of Parivahan system access for manual fitness testing in districts where Automated Testing Stations (ATS) are operational.

As a result of the directive, transporters attempting to obtain or renew fitness certificates at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in adjoining districts are facing system-generated restrictions on the VAHAN portal. This has effectively blocked the fitness certification process, forcing thousands of commercial vehicles off the road and severely impacting transport operations in multiple regions.

Advisor and former president of All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), Bal Malkit Singh said, "The decision has overlooked ground realities. He pointed out that while the MoRTH letter directs the Transport Commissioner's office to submit an action plan for establishing ATS infrastructure statewide, only one ATS facility is currently operational in Nashik."

Singh further added, "Expecting commercial vehicles from adjoining districts to travel long distances solely for fitness testing is impractical, illogical and economically unviable." He further highlighted that commercial vehicles operate under strict delivery schedules and contractual obligations.

Singh further added that commercial vehicles operate under tight delivery schedules and contractual commitments, and the current situation is causing:

• Heavy financial losses due to vehicle idling.
• Severe disruption of essential supply chains, including food grains, FMCG, fuel, industrial raw materials, and other critical goods.
• Increased operational costs, fuel wastage, and manpower losses.
• Risk of penal action against vehicle owners due to expired fitness certificates, despite no fault of theirs.
• Acute hardship to small and medium transport operators, who are already under financial stress.

Emphasising the urgency of the issue, Singh said prolonged disruption in fitness certification could have far-reaching consequences for trade, industry and public supply systems. "The transport sector is the backbone of the economy. Immediate interim arrangements are essential until adequate ATS infrastructure is established across all districts," he added.

The transport community has urged the Transport Commissioner of Maharashtra to urgently intervene by providing an interim solution, issuing temporary relaxations or necessary clarifications on the VAHAN system, and expediting the phased rollout of ATS facilities to ensure a smooth transition without paralysing transport operations across the state.