Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in a circular has asked the state governments to extend the validity of documents related to Motor vehicle Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. The validity of documents is in reference to the earlier extension that the government made on 30th March 2020 and 9th June 2020.
It was advised that all documents related to Motor vehicle Act, 1988 and Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989 including the validity of fitness, permit of all types, driving license, registration or any other document related to the MVA 1988 and CMVR 1989 which had expired since 1st February 2020, will stand valid till the 30th of September 2020 in lieu of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government in the latest circular advised that the validity be further extended to 31 December 2020 taking into consideration the COVID-19 situation. The validity of the documents that have expired since 1st February 2020 will be treated as valid until the 31st December 2020.
MoRTH in the same circular also advised the relevant authorities to treat such documents as valid further helping out citizens in availing transport-related services. MoRTH has also requested all states and union territories to implement the advisory both in letter and spirit so that citizens, transporters and other organizations who are operating in this difficult time do not get harassed.
In other news, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) published a Gazette Notification related to Motor Vehicle Legislation under draft GSR 103 (E) to further amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, (CMVR) 1989 which stated three new rules one each for the Motorcycles, M1 category motor vehicles and other vehicles including farming equipment, construction vehicles and L5 category vehicles.
According to the new rules, motorcycles shall be provisioned with permanent grab handles for the pillions along with a footrest and a safety device that covers at least half the wheel to prevent clothes getting entangled in the rear wheel, M1 category vehicles if fitted with Tubeless Tyres and provided with a Tyre Repair Kit as standard, such vehicles need not be provided with a spare wheel and the windscreen of glass windows of every motor vehicle including agricultural tractors, combine harvester, construction equipment shall be of safety glass of glazing equipment and L5 category vehicles (three-wheelers) with hood and side covers mays use acrylic or plastic transparent sheet.