KATHMANDU: Although existing laws require public vehicles to undergo mandatory fitness checks every six months, only one of the five vehicle testing centers currently operational in the country can conduct machine-based testing. The remaining four centers function in name only, conducting manual inspections rather than comprehensive technical assessments.
According to the Department of Transport Management (DoTM), vehicle testing centers are currently operational in Teku (Kathmandu), Hetauda (Makwanpur), Attariya (Kailali), Itahari (Sunsari), and Butwal (Rupandehi). These centers, which are under transport management offices, have been testing the fitness of public vehicles. However, except for Teku, the rest lack even the most basic testing infrastructure.
Outside of Kathmandu, fitness testing means nothing more than visual inspections. Officials at these centers check headlights, wipers, gears, seats and first-aid kits, but do not use any mechanical or electronic equipment to evaluate brake efficiency, torque, suspension, steering response, or tire conditions.
Except for Teku, all vehicle fitness testing centers lack even the most basic testing infrastructure.
Shreekanta Yadav, chief of the Vehicle Testing, Inter-province Transport Management and Transport Standards Determination Division at the DoTM, said the ministry plans to gradually equip all centers with modern machinery. “The intention is to automate testing across the country, but it requires land and investment,” he told MeroAuto. “Only the center at Teku has the necessary equipment at present. We plan to gradually implement similar machine-based systems at the remaining centers as well.”
According to the DoTM, the main challenge in installing equipment at other offices is the lack of government-owned land. In addition, insufficient budget allocations and the lack of prioritization by the government have delayed equipment installation.
All vehicle fitness testing centers, except for the one in Teku, are on rented land.
A proper vehicle fitness testing center
The fitness testing center at Teku is equipped with a fitness testing lane, chassis dynamometer, noise tester, light intensity tester and pollution check equipment, said Suresh Shrestha, head of the center. These tools help technicians in automated brake testing, suspension analysis, sound intensity analysis, headlight beam measurement and torque assessment. “Chassis dynamometer helps us to measure a vehicle’s power and torque,” Shrestha added.
However, even Teku’s fitness testing lane is currently out of operation due to technical issues.
“Since the equipment was installed by a Chinese contractor, it requires technicians from the same company for repairs,” Shrestha said. “However, as local expertise is now available, we are working to resolve the issue soon.”
He added that there is a need to install equipment like steering and suspension testers to make the center fully equipped.
Only visual testing at other centers
Vehicle fitness tests are conducted manually at the remaining centers.
“This is more of an inspection center than a testing facility. We visually inspect brakes, chassis, suspension and tires, etc,” admitted Subash Badal, head of Attariya Vehicle Fitness Testing Center. “We only have equipment for emission tests. Everything else is done manually.”
The government has unveiled a plan to set up well-quipped fitness testing centers in Pokhara, Bardibas and Surkhet.
Amit Acharya, chief of the Hetauda Vehicle Testing Center, agreed with Badal. He said that apart from pollution checks, all other inspections are still conducted manually. “Apart from emission tests, all other inspections are done visually by staff,” Acharya told MeroAuto. “Until we have our own land, we cannot install the necessary equipment. We have requested for budget to purchase land and are also exploring government land options.”
Ashish Chaudhary, information officer at the Itahari Vehicle Fitness Testing Center, also said they were searching for land to establish a proper vehicle fitness test center. “So far, all vehicle inspections have been done manually,” he said.
Three new centers on the cards
The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has unveiled a plan to have at least one well-equipped vehicle fitness testing center in each province.
It has proposed setting up such centers in Pokhara of Gandaki Province, Bardibas of Madhesh Province and Surkhet of Karnali Province. Bagmati Province has two such centers (in Kathmandu and Heatauda), while Lumbini, Sudurpashchim and Koshi provinces have one each.
The government has earmarked a budget of Rs 104.4 million to build such centers.
