Srinagar, Aug 09: Transport authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have restored the facility for payment of fitness fees and related documentation on the Parivahan portal, providing relief to commercial vehicle operators who had been unable to complete mandatory fitness formalities for several weeks.
The decision comes after a Rising Kashmir report highlighted the difficulties faced by transporters following delays in operationalising Automated Testing Stations (ATS) in several districts.
With manual fitness testing halted in the affected areas and ATS facilities yet to become fully operational, a large number of commercial vehicle operators were unable to renew their fitness certificates and complete related statutory formalities. The situation had left transporters facing uncertainty, financial losses and the risk of penalties for operating vehicles without updated fitness documents.
Officials said the online facility for payment of fitness fees and processing of related documentation will remain available in the respective districts until the ATS centres are commissioned and become fully operational.
The move has been welcomed by transport bodies, including the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) and the J&K Transport Welfare Association, among other transporters’ unions.
Transport representatives said the restoration would provide immediate relief to operators who had been struggling to keep their vehicles compliant with statutory requirements.
“The sudden halt in fitness renewals created immense uncertainty and daily losses for fleet owners. Restoring the portal gives us much-needed relief and allows transport operations to continue,” a senior transporter representative said.
The interim arrangement is expected to ease pressure on commercial operators while the authorities complete the process of establishing and commissioning ATS facilities across the affected districts.
Transporters said the restoration of the online services would also help prevent disruption to public transport and movement of essential goods, while providing authorities additional time to put the automated testing infrastructure in place.
