Despite the adverse situation due to COVID restrictions and a heavy and long monsoon season, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has reported strong performance in the year gone by, with initiation of certain measures that are likely to have far reaching impact on Indian citizens.
Voluntary Vehicle Scrappage Policy
The announcement of the voluntary Vehicle Scrappage Policy, which will phase out unfit vehicles from the country and create a viable circular economy, was clearly one of the major decisions taken by the Ministry last year. The policy is expected to bring value for all stakeholders, while being environmentally responsible. Moreover, fresh investments of over INR 10,000 crore and job opportunities are likely to be created.
The policy intends to create scrapping infrastructure in the form of Automated Testing Stations and Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs) across the country. The first such facility set up by Maruti Suzuki in collaboration with Toyota Tshusho Group was inaugurated in Noida in November.
The rules for setting up of ATSs take into account vehicle safety & emission requirements and global best practices and have been incorporated according to the vehicles and systems in place in India. An automated testing station uses mechanical equipment to automate the various tests required to check fitness to a vehicle.
MoRTH also notified detailed procedures for setting up of RVSFs, which are applicable to all automobile collection centres, automotive dismantling, scrapping and recycling facilities and recyclers of all types of automotive waste products.
Owners of vehicles that are over 15 years old would need to shell out a higher fee for conducting fitness test and to acquire renewal of fitness certificate. Notably, registration fee for new vehicles that are purchased against Certificate of Deposit issued by a RVSF will be waived off. In fact, vehicles registered against a Certificate of Deposit issued by a RVSF will be granted concession in motor vehicle tax – up to 25% in case of non-transport (personal) vehicles and up to 15% in case of transport (commercial) vehicles. This will be effective from April 1, 2022.
National Highways
Ever since the BJP-led NDA government came to power in 2014, MoRTH has reported 50% growth in the length of national highways (NH) over the seven year period – from 91,287 km (as on April 2014) to around 141,000 km now. Pace of construction increased from 12 km a day in FY15 to 37 km per day in FY21.
In terms of the length of NH constructed, 13,327 km of NHs were constructed in FY21 as against 4,410 km in FY15. In the current fiscal, FY22, the Ministry has so far built 5,407 km on NHs (as on December 24, 2021).
Last year, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) made mandatory use of drones for monthly video recording of NH projects during all stages of development, construction, operation and maintenance. This has been done to enhance transparency, uniformity and leverage latest technology, MoRTH said.
To bring down accidents on NHs, safety audits have been mandated at all stages of road development. In addition, the ministry introduced several new technologies and initiatives, such as LIDAR for DPR preparation, Machine Control Technology, Network Survey Vehicle (NSV), Mobile Bridge Inspection Unit (MBIU) for inventory survey and use of steel fibres in deck slab for increase of span length.
Citizen-Centric Moves
The year 2021 will also be remembered for a bevy of citizen-centric decisions taken by the MoRTH. A new registration mark for new vehicles – Bharat series (BH-series) would ensure that vehicle with BH mark will not require a new registration mark, when the owner shifts from one state to another. This facility is optional for defence personnel, employees of central & state governments; central & state PSUs; and private sector companies having their offices in four or more States/UTs.
In addition, certain services regarding learning driving license and certificate of registration have been made completely online without going to the RTO, with the help of Aadhaar authentication, on voluntary basis.
On March 8, 2021, MoRTH notified adoption of mass emission standards for E20 fuel. BIS has already notified fuel specifications of E20 fuel. The Ministry had already notified emission standards of E85 and E100 fuel. The compatibility of vehicle to the level of ethanol blend of E20 or E85 or E100 or ED95 shall be defined by the vehicle manufacturers and the same shall be displayed on the vehicle by putting a clearly visible sticker, the ministry said.
On May 25, 2021, the ministry amended the Central Motor Vehicle Rules 1989 to insert a new rule 115K incorporating the requirements for motor vehicles of Categories L,M and N running on anhydrous ethanol or blends of ethanol with gasoline. These safety requirements of will be in accordance with AIS 171:2021, as amended from time to time, till the corresponding Standard is notified under the Bureau of Indian Standard Act, 1986 ( of 2016).
Among other significant decisions, MoRTH decided to take the complete process of grant of learner's licence online, from application to printing of learner's licence. A National Register of driver’s licence (DL) and RC (Certificate of Registration) has come into effect, subsuming state registers of DL and RC of all the States. This will help in updating and accessing the data on real time basis anywhere in the country. In case of fully built vehicles, the mandatory requirement of furnishing the vehicle for inspection to the RTO has been done away with. This will ease the process of registration.
In yet another move that is certain to have positive impact is the draft Scheme for Compensation of Hit & Run Accident Victims. The draft scheme proposes enhanced compensation (from INR 12,500 to INR 50,000 for grievous hurt, and from INR 25,000 to INR 200,000 for death). This scheme will supersede the earlier Solatium Scheme, 1989.
Based on suggestions of the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, the ministry mandated that vehicles manufactured on and after the April 1, 2021, in the case of new models, and August 31, 2021, in the case of existing models, shall be fitted with airbag for the person occupying the front seat, other than the driver, and the requirement for such airbag shall be as per AIS 145.
The government has, however, decided to extend the timeline in respect of date of implementation for fitment of airbags on existing models December 31, 2021 due to the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic.
With regards to Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates, the ministry has mandated a common format to be issued across the country, in order to bring about uniformity. The PUC database can be linked with the National Register. The owner’s mobile number has been made mandatory, on which an SMS alert will be sent for validation and fees.
Fully built buses (with a seating capacity of 22 passengers or above, excluding driver) manufactured on and after April 1, 2019 shall be in accordance with AIS:153, as amended from time to time, till the corresponding BIS specifications are notified under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 2016 (11 of 2016).
Electric vehicle charging stations are to be provided by the developer as part of the Wayside Amenities (WSAs) being awarded by NHAI. The Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL) consortium with Convergence Energy Services (subsidiary of EESL) has been awarded the work for setting up of EV charging stations along 16 NH/Expressways.
In an attempt to revolutionise the transport of goods and reduce the overall logistic costs, the Automotive Industry Standards Committee has amended its AIS-113 Standard to include the safety requirements of Road-Trains. The standards have been prepared after examining European benchmarks, keeping in mind Indian operating conditions. These standards shall pave the way for a breakthrough intervention for fast and efficient movement of goods along the long-distance freight corridors, MoRTH noted.
Road Accidents And Safety
The ministry also announced a reward scheme for Good Samaritan, who helped save a life involved in a fatal motor vehicle-related accident by administering immediate assistance and rushing to Hospital within the Golden Hour to provide medical treatment. The amount of award would be INR 5,000 per incident. An individual Good Samaritan can be awarded maximum five times in a year.
MoRTH also notified constitution of the National Road Safety Board, which shall be responsible for promoting road safety, innovation and adoption of new technology and for regulating traffic and motor vehicles.
In new draft rules for the safety of children below four years riding or being carried on a motorcycle, the ministry has notified that the child must wear a well-fit crash helmet, and a safety harness shall be used to attach the child to the motorcyclist, whose riding speed should not