Basic HTML Version
118
MOTORINDIA
l
April 2012
Expanding role of I&C centres in
ensuring vehicle fitness
Only properly serviced vehicles
are considered safe vehicles. But
how to verify that vehicles are safe
and secure and their impact on the
public? Why is it so important to
have vehicle inspection & certifica-
tion centres?
Public safety is the most important
argument for setting up of inspection
and certification centres. The safety
level must be the highest possible
given by the authorities in charge of
public transportation and not a self-
made level as from transportation
companies which might consider
cost compromises.
If we agree on this major issue,
we have to make sure that a reliable
system is available to ensure vehicle
safety.
Basic safety aspects of the vehicle
like brake, speedometer, headlight,
underbody inspection and exhaust
emission are tested / inspected and
certified at the I&C station. All nec-
essary test results, alongwith vehicle
owner details, are available for re-
view. A nation-wide network of test
centres can be created by integrating
all the I&C stations.
Here is how a vehicle inspec-
tion & certification system is im-
plemented? India has a history of
pollution checking, so that the ba-
sics are already available. An I&C
system of course is a much bigger
challenge since reasonable invest-
ments on land and equipment have
to be made. If an investor is sure
that he can make profits out of his
investment, an I&C system can be
implemented without any public in-
vestment. In fact, the State will earn
from the I&C stations!
Further, reliable law concerning
vehicle testing should be enforced,
and, more important, strongly ac-
complished.
A vital point to note here is the in-
dependency of the I&C station and
the inspectors. This means that the
inspection company and its employ-
ees shouldn’t have any interest to
pass or fail vehicles. This emphasis-
es the need for separation of work-
shops and I&C stations.
What will be the impact of the
I&C system on the vehicle business?
a) Besides a higher vehicle safety
it is proven that implementation of
an I&C system has its impact on
workshop business.
b) Considering that only 10 per
cent of all tested vehicles will show
a minor defect which requires spares
and labor, it is very obvious how
much additional jobs and business
can be created!
c) The State will have a much
better control over fake spare parts
since vehicles will be checked by
independent inspectors.
d) Reduction in traffic accidents
and, as a result, reduced loss of lives.
w
Research & Development
By Raj Rengarajan, MAHA India Automotive Testing Equipment Pvt. ltd.
Every country / State / city needs
all information about the quality of
the vehicle population to make the
right decision on future infrastruc-
ture projects. I&C centres gather
data not only about the vehicle
population but, even, more im-
portant, about their quality, which
leads directly to the standard of
service workshops.