Pune: Over 62,863 vehicles in Pimpri-Chinchwad operating on the roads without undergoing the legally required fitness tests. The revelation comes in the wake of a tragic March 19 fire incident, in which four workers lost their lives when a tempo traveller they were commuting in caught fire.
This alarming situation has heightened fears among thousands of daily commuters who depend on public and commercial transport, especially in IT parks and MIDC industrial zones.
As per transport regulations, new commercial vehicles must pass a fitness test every two years, followed by annual tests thereafter. However, a significant number of vehicle owners are failing to comply with these rules, compromising road safety.
Data from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Regional Transport Office (RTO) reveals that out of 2,21,001 registered vehicles, nearly 30% have skipped their fitness tests.
Being an industrial and IT hub, Pimpri-Chinchwad sees heavy reliance on passenger and goods vehicles for daily transport. The lack of compliance with fitness test regulations puts countless lives at risk.
Fitness Test Compliance: Key Statistics
Vehicle type Registered untested vehicles
Three-wheelers (Passenger)- 43,786 7,555
Three-wheelers (Goods) – 6,639 753
Articulated vehicles – 1,493 185
Goods vehicles – 1,15,630 37,844
Passenger vehicles – 32,135 12,386
Buses- 15,573 3,690
Ambulances – 2,093 421
Camper vans- 128
Fire engines – 976
Semi-trailer commercial – 2280
Quadricycles – 10
E-rickshaws (Goods)- 2729
E-rickshaws (Passenger) – 426
Total vehicles – 2,21,001 62,863
With such large-scale non-compliance, authorities have reiterated the urgent need for strict enforcement of fitness tests to ensure road safety and prevent future tragedies.
