Preparations on for conducting fitness test of vehicles using equipment

KATHMANDU, March 27: Preparations have been made to check the fitness of vehicles by using equipment after around a decade of its purchase.  

The Vehicle Fitness Test Center (VFTC), Teku, has been making preparations to test the fitness of vehicles by the machine. According to VFTC, the center has not come into operation due to the lack of work procedure even after repair and maintenance of the vehicle testing equipment. 

The Department of Transport Management has started discussions regarding the criteria of operation of the VFTC. Chief of VFTC, Maniram Bhusal, said although the center has not been operated regularly after the repair and maintenance of the machinery equipment, it has been running off and on. 

He added, "Although the Vehicle Act has mentioned the fitness test of vehicles, it has not been made mandatory." It is not necessary to check the fitness of a new car for a few years. 

Bhusal shared that the criteria would be made based on the suggestions of experts regarding making fitness tests mandatory for vehicles.

He further said, "We are in a ready position to operate the center as soon as the criteria is ready. The fitness of both light and heavy vehicles can be tested."

Fitness of vehicles should be checked every six months. It is not mandatory to private vehicles to check their fitness in Nepal. However, only emission tests of private vehicles are mandatory in Nepal.  

Around 2,500-3,000 vehicles visit the Center for the emission test in a month.