Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed officials to speed up the establishment of Automated Vehicle Testing Stations (ATS) across the state, aiming to improve road safety, bring transparency to vehicle fitness checks, and reduce manual intervention in inspections.
During a high-level review meeting, the Chief Minister stressed that all vehicle fitness tests should gradually shift to registered automated testing centres, in line with the Central Motor Vehicle Rules that mandate automated fitness testing for transport vehicles from April 1, 2025.
53 Testing Stations Planned Across Maharashtra
Officials informed that Maharashtra plans to establish a total of 53 Automated Vehicle Testing Stations, out of which seven are already operational and 37 are expected to become functional by the end of August 2026. This will make Maharashtra one of the largest contributors to India’s national ATS rollout, accounting for nearly 25% of the country’s 214 ATS centres.
The state currently has around 4.3 crore vehicles, including nearly 36.8 lakh transport vehicles, and about nine lakh vehicles require annual fitness testing, making the transition to automated systems critical for smoother operations and better compliance.
Focus on Transparency and Accuracy
The Chief Minister said automated testing will help eliminate irregularities often associated with manual inspections and ensure more accurate, sensor-based vehicle fitness certification.
Under the ATS model, vehicle inspections are conducted using advanced equipment and digital systems that check braking, suspension, emissions, headlights, alignment, and overall roadworthiness with minimal human intervention. This improves both transparency and efficiency in the certification process.
Financial Support and Project Cost
The five-year operational and maintenance cost for the ATS project is estimated at around ₹1,035 crore, with the Centre already providing financial assistance of approximately ₹337.7 crore. Officials said timely completion is necessary to avoid further disruptions in the vehicle fitness certification system.
Relief After Portal Restrictions
Earlier delays in ATS completion had led to restrictions on access to the government’s Transport/Vehicle portal in some regions, causing inconvenience to transporters and commercial vehicle owners. Following intervention by the state government, the Centre has now lifted these restrictions, offering temporary relief while ATS infrastructure is being expanded.
The Union Transport Ministry has also allowed manual fitness tests for commercial vehicles until October 2026 in areas where ATS facilities are not yet operational.
Bigger Picture
The move reflects Maharashtra’s larger push toward digitised transport governance and improved road safety standards. Faster rollout of automated testing stations is expected to reduce delays, improve compliance, and ensure safer vehicles on roads across the state.
If implemented effectively, the ATS system could significantly modernise Maharashtra’s vehicle inspection framework while benefiting transport operators, commercial drivers, and the general public through safer and more reliable road transport.
