Madurai likely to get TN’s first automated vehicle testing station

Madurai: Madurai is likely to get Tamil Nadu’s first Automated Testing Station (ATS) under the public-private partnership model, with similar facilities also planned in Salem, Tiruvallur, Tuticorin and Villupuram.The ATS facilities will automate fitness certificate (FC) renewals and emission compliance checks for light and heavy motor vehicles through sensor-based testing systems, reducing human intervention in the inspection process.Officials said the new system would eliminate the role of brokers and middlemen as brake inspectors who often operate at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs). At the proposed ATS facility in Madurai South RTO, vehicles will undergo automated testing, and results will be generated digitally without manual inspection by transport officials.“Vehicle owners will only have to complete document verification before handing over the vehicle for testing. The results will be uploaded directly to the VAHAN portal and owners will receive pass or fail updates through SMS,” a senior transport department official said.Under the system, vehicles will pass through multiple testing stations in automated lanes. The first station will check emission levels, exhaust noise, horn, speed governor, and speedometer functions. The second station will assess braking efficiency, suspension and wheel alignment, while the final station will test steering angle, headlight alignment, and chassis condition.“The combination of tests may vary depending on vehicle category and lane configuration, but all results will be generated digitally,” the official added.Currently, fitness inspections at manual centres cost between Rs 200 and Rs 600 depending on vehicle type. According to transport department tenders, automated testing charges at ATS facilities are expected to range between Rs 650 and Rs 1,050.The transport department has allotted one year for construction and installation of the ATS facilities, followed by a 14-year operations and maintenance period under the concession agreement.The ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) has fixed Oct 1 as the deadline for mandatory automated fitness testing systems across the country.Transportation expert S Kamal said Tamil Nadu should adhere to the timeline as mechanical failures in ageing vehicles continue to contribute to road accidents. “Government buses should be prioritised for automated fitness checks because public transport vehicles cover long distances daily,” he said, referring to the Sept 2025 Ranipet accident in which a tyre burst in a government bus injured 20 passengers.