SIAM Concludes Its 20th Lecture Series Focusing ‘Vehicle Inspection and Certification: Challenges & Opportunities’

The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), the apex automotive industry body remarkably and successfully concluded its journey of 20 lecture series, which was started on World Environment Day 2020 with the prime focus on environment, safety and sustainable mobility. The series concluded with 20th lecture concentrating on ‘Vehicle Inspection and Certification: Challenges & Opportunities’. The series delved into the challenges, opportunities, policies, regulations and technology interventions needed for stricter vehicle inspection & certification, so as to ensure that the in-use vehicles, which are on road, meet all the safety standards and emission requirements for safe and environment friendly mobility. SIAM hosted this lecture series with the objective of improving the condition of in-use fleet on the roads.

Segmented into two sessions, the lecture series witnessed senior Government officials, industry stalwarts and experts, showcase vehicular inspection best practices and the challenges faced by the industry, while highlighting the myriad opportunities that the sector provides. .

Mr Prashant K Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM, said, “A panel of distinguished experts from the automotive domain provided the much needed insight into ‘Vehicle Inspection and Certification: Challenges & Opportunities’ which inter alia highlighted the implementation of vehicle scrappage policy announced by the Government. This will also help in vehicle modernization program to achieve circular economy, sustainability and sustainable development goals in the country by 2030.”

The Chief Guest Mr K C Gupta, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, stated, “Making the vehicles safer alone would not bring down the accidents and fatalities unless they are checked and inspected at regular intervals. With the announcement of vehicle scrappage policy by the MoRTH, vehicle Inspection and certification will become critical for the implementation of scrappage policy and Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization program. The road worthiness of vehicles will not only reduce mortality and injuries due to lesser road accidents but also reduces the insurance premium payable by the owner of the vehicle. Inspection and certification also have great Social, Environmental and Economic benefits. In fact, fit and sound vehicle will foster sustainable mobility and sustainable development goals 2030.”

Mr Ashish Kundra, Principal Secretary and Commissioner, Transport Department, Government of NCT of Delhi, said, “Due to the rapid increase in public transport, the improvement of vehicle performance capability and servicing becomes an ever-increasing urgency. An effective improvement of roadworthiness can be achieved by the implementing an effective and sound vehicle inspection and certification regime. Vehicles that will fail the fitness test will be labeled as ''End of Life Vehicles (ELV)''. Such vehicles will not be allowed to run on roads. The MoRTH is promoting setting up of Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) across India and will encourage public and private participation for opening of such centers. Efforts are also being made to set up Integrated Scrapping Facilities across India. Similarly, the MoRTH is also promoting setting up of Automated Fitness Centers on a PPP model by bringing in state government, private sector, automobile companies, etc. On a single platform.”

On this occasion, Mr Punit Talwar, Sr. Vice President, Rosmerta Technologies Ltd, made a presentation on the theme, “Systems of I&C in India” giving the comprehensive overview of the present system prevalent in India.

Speaking about the Certification and Inspection Centers in India, Mr R R Meena, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India, outlined the national perspective and India’s Roadmap of Vehicle inspection and certification. A video presentation of  Mr Graham Williams, Managing Director GB MOT Training Ltd Manchester, England, UK, shared which showcased the international perspective and prevailing practices about inspection and certification.

Mr Sanjay Mehta, President, MRAI, threw light on the Imperatives of Vehicle Road worthiness & ELV recycling, showcase the Cost Benefit Analysis of I&C Centres, Mr Anil Chhikara, MLO, Delhi Transport Department gave an overview about the economics behind the process. Mr B Bhanot, Chairman TED29, Bureau of Indian Standards, shared an overview on the inspection and certification benchmarking, presenting global alignment with the practices.

Mr Shriniwas Chakravarthy, Co Chairman, SIAM Service, Inspection, Maintenance & Certification Group, Head (Technical Service), Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt Ltd., moderated the sessions extremely intelligently and scientifically.

With deliberations on Government’s Roadmap, Opportunities & Challenges, Cost Benefit Analysis, Overview on Global Best Practices and Alignment, SIAM's lecture series officially concluded on a high note, with a rich and insightful exchange of ideas, best practices and strategies.