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The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has extended the validity of vehicle documents such as driving licence and permits that expired on February 1 or since.
In an advisory to all States and Union Territories on Monday, the Ministry asked them to treat such documents as valid till June 30.
The decision was taken to facilitate people facing difficulties in renewing various motor vehicle documents due to the nationwide lockdown and closure of RTOs (road transport offices), it said. “The documents include fitness certificates, permits (all types), driving licence, registration or any other document under the Motor Vehicle Rules,” it said.
The Ministry requested all States/UTs to implement the advisory in “letter and spirit” so that the public, transporters and organisations rendering essential services are not inconvenienced.
Free movement
Further, in a double-delight for lakhs of transporters, the Centre has allowed, without any distinction, movement of both essential and non-essential goods across the country.
Besides documentation issues, the categorisation of goods was hampering the transport industry since the lockdown announced by the Centre. As States closed their borders, movement of trucks, including those carrying essential items, was badly affected.
On Saturday, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, in a communication to all Chief Secretaries, said that transportation of all goods, without distinction of essential and non-essential goods, has been allowed.
States and Union Territories have been asked to implement the advisory so that transporters and organisations that are rendering essential services are not harassed or face difficulties during the lockdown, says the advisory.
The advisory will not only help owners of commercial vehicles but also the common man whose licence fall due for renewal, said a truck owner.
P Sundarraj, Managing Director of Tiruchirapalli-based Subham Freight Carriers India Pvt Ltd, said the movement of non-essential goods has started.
However, the challenge is that the advisory should reach officials who are on the ground, to facilitate seamless movement of both essential and non-essential goods at State borders, he added.
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