Delhi auto fitness tests have been halted at the automatic testing centre in Burari for about a week, leaving thousands of auto-rickshaw drivers without fitness certificates and exposing them to traffic challans and fines, according to a report by Jagran – New Delhi.
The disruption followed the inclusion of auto-rickshaws in the fitness-testing process at the Burari centre. With certificates reportedly not being issued, drivers whose vehicles do not have valid fitness clearance are facing difficulty operating without the risk of enforcement action. The report said traffic police have been issuing challans to some drivers on the road.
The stoppage has created uncertainty for drivers who must complete fitness certification to remain compliant with transport rules. The report said the problem has affected thousands of auto-rickshaw operators and has led to growing concern among members of the sector over fines and financial losses.
Upendra Singh, general secretary of Aapka Apna Auto Taxi Union, has written to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh seeking government intervention. The union has asked the authorities to restore manual fitness inspections until the automatic testing centre is able to process auto-rickshaws properly.
According to the report, transport department fitness inspectors previously examined auto-rickshaws manually and issued fitness certificates. The transition to the new system has interrupted that process, with drivers unable to obtain certificates through the automatic centre during the reported period.
The union has requested that transport officials be directed to permit manual inspections as an interim arrangement. It said this would prevent drivers from being subjected to penalties while the automatic testing process is being put in place for auto-rickshaws.
The issue highlights the immediate operational consequences of shifting a high-volume public transport service from a manual certification system to an automated facility. Auto-rickshaws are an important part of Delhi’s last-mile transport network, and any interruption in their regulatory clearance affects both drivers and passengers who depend on them for short-distance travel.
The report did not specify when the automatic testing centre would resume issuing fitness certificates for auto-rickshaws or whether the Transport Department had formally approved a temporary return to manual inspections. The union’s request is now awaiting a response from the Chief Minister’s Office and the Transport Department.
