Govt approves extension of registration validity for 15 yrs old commercial vehicles
The commercial vehicle operators have finally heaved a sigh of relief as the Jammu and Kashmir administration has nodded for the vehicles older than 15 years to ply on road and the national highways.
Reliable sources in the Transport Department said that vehicles older than 15 years will now be permitted to operate on the roads in the twin capital cities of the Union territory.
“The government has amended its decision to dispose of vehicles older than 15 years but still plying on roads,” sources said.
They said that after new amendments, the registration of commercial vehicles in Srinagar and Jammu cities will now be valid for 20 years and in other districts of the Union Territory, the registration of such vehicles will be valid for 25 years.
“Similarly, the private vehicles can also be operated after its life comes to an end in 15 years by applying for certificate of fitness and renewal of registration,” they added.
Sources further said that order has also been issued by the Transport Department, in which it has been said that on the basis of this decision taken in the meeting of the State Administrative Council held on January 29, the relief has been provided to the owners possessing vehicles whose life has exceeded 15 years.
“All the commercial vehicles will now be off roads after 20 years instead of 15 years and those vehicles whose registration certificate has completed 15 years period, can extend its validity for another five years,” sources added.
Except Jammu and Srinagar cities, the commercial vehicles operating in other districts of the Union Territory will have a validity period of 25 years and the validity period can be extended in two phases comprising a period of five years each.
“The owners of commercial vehicles will now have to obtain a fitness certificate from the Transport Department after every six months,” they said, adding that no time period has been prescribed for private vehicles.
Notably, earlier the government had fixed a period of 15 years for private vehicles which was later extended to five years.
“All private vehicles can ply on the road as long as they are fit. For this, vehicle owners will have to apply to extend the registration period validity of the vehicle by obtaining the fitness certificate from time to time from the Transport Department,” they said.
As per the Motor Vehicles Act, an application by or on behalf of the owner of a motor vehicle, other than a transport vehicle, for the renewal of a certificate of registration, shall be made to the registering authority in whose jurisdiction the vehicles is, in Form 25 not more than 60 days before the date of its expiry, accompanied by the appropriate fee as specified in rule 81.
The Government Order Number 20-TR of 2007, dated 20-03-2007, which acknowledges a complete ban on plying of old commercial/passenger vehicles on roads in J&K on attaining the age of 25 years with effect from 01.04.2007, says that the fitness test of passenger/commercial vehicles aged between 15 to 25 years, is compulsory after every six months.
This means that registration of the passenger/commercial vehicles between 15 to 25 years can be renewed on producing fitness certificates after every six months.
