Panaji: More than 18 months after permission was given to set up an automated testing station (ATS) for two-wheelers, light motor vehicles and heavy vehicles on 4,000sqm of land at the Tuem Industrial Estate, the Goa Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC) is yet to hand over the plot to the entity created to operate the facility.The facility at Tuem was being set up under the Automated Testing Station Policy of Goa, 2024, which was supposed to replace the traditional manual vehicle fitness checks conducted at RTO offices with a more technologically driven approach. The Goa Investment Promotion Board had given its in-principle approval to Ojas Impex on Jan 23, 2025, for setting up an automated testing station and Goa IPB had recommended 4,000sqm at the Tuem Industrial Estate.The Union transport ministry had made it mandatory for all states to set up automated testing stations, with Union minister Nitin Gadkari recommending that three stations be set up in Goa. Aside from the one at Tuem, one ATS was supposed to come up at Verna.In order to execute the project at Tuem, Ojas Impex created a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) – Kadamba Integrated Solutions Pvt Ltd- to develop, operate and manage the facility.According to Goa IPB officials, the SPV has completed the payment of land premium and lease rent to the GIDC. However, the recent IPB agenda document stated, “the board may also like to note that the plot is yet to be allotted to the project proponent.”
