Karnataka Cab Drivers Turn to Andhra Pradesh for Cheaper Fitness Certificates

A growing number of commercial vehicle owners in Karnataka are reportedly crossing the state border to Andhra Pradesh to renew their vehicle fitness certificates at a much lower cost. The move has emerged as a concern for the Karnataka Transport Department, which says vehicle owners are trying to avoid the expenses associated with mandatory GPS and panic button systems.

Under the Nirbhaya Scheme, GPS tracking and panic buttons are required in yellow board commercial vehicles. The safety system is intended to help track vehicles and provide assistance during emergencies involving passengers, drivers or women travelling in cabs and other commercial vehicles.

The major issue for vehicle owners is the cost involved in complying with the requirement during fitness certificate renewal. In Karnataka, renewing the fitness certificate for an older yellow board vehicle can cost between Rs 17000 and Rs 18000 when the fitness fee, GPS and panic button installation and annual renewal expenses are taken together.

The basic fitness certificate fee in Karnataka is around Rs 800. However, installing the GPS and panic button system can cost between Rs 13000 and Rs 16000. An additional annual renewal expense of around Rs 2200 is also involved.

The difference becomes significant when compared with the cost reportedly available in Andhra Pradesh. Vehicle owners can pay around Rs 800 for the fitness certificate there without installing the GPS and panic button system required under Karnataka rules. This large price gap is encouraging some operators to look towards RTO offices across the border.

Several vehicle owners are reportedly travelling to places such as Penukonda, Chittoor and Anantapur to obtain fitness certificates. The development has become a concern for Karnataka authorities because commercial vehicles registered in the state are being taken outside Karnataka to complete the renewal process.

The transport department has now written to the Andhra Pradesh Transport Commissioner seeking action over the practice. Karnataka officials are concerned that allowing vehicles to obtain fitness certificates without meeting the required safety standards could undermine the purpose of the regulations.

According to Karnataka Transport Department Additional Commissioner C Mallikarjun, there are around six lakh yellow board vehicles in the state. GPS systems have already been installed in approximately 3.30 lakh of these vehicles.

The department has also warned that action will be taken against owners who operate commercial vehicles without the required GPS equipment. Officials are particularly concerned about vehicles that may obtain fitness certificates elsewhere and continue operating in Karnataka without complying with the states safety requirements.

The GPS and panic button system is intended to provide an additional safety layer for passengers and drivers. When an emergency occurs, vehicle tracking can help authorities identify the location of the vehicle and respond more quickly. A dedicated control room has also been established by the department, with officials reportedly handling around 800 to 1000 calls each day related to drivers and vehicle operations.

The cost difference has nevertheless created frustration among private cab operators. For many individual vehicle owners and drivers, spending several thousand rupees on safety equipment and renewals can add considerably to their annual operating expenses.

The Karnataka Tours and Travels Association has also raised concerns about the financial burden. Association president Radhakrishna Holla said the high cost of installing GPS and panic button equipment was one reason some private operators were travelling to Andhra Pradesh for fitness certification.

The impact is reportedly visible at Karnataka RTO offices as well. Earlier, some offices received an average of around 100 yellow board vehicles a day for fitness certification. That number has reportedly dropped sharply, with only about 10 to 20 vehicles now arriving at some offices.

The situation has put the Transport Department in a difficult position. While the government wants commercial vehicle owners to follow safety requirements, operators are looking for ways to control rising expenses. The large difference between the two states has made this gap more noticeable.

For Karnataka authorities, the issue is not limited to revenue collection. Officials are also concerned that vehicles operating without the required safety equipment could weaken the states passenger safety measures. The department is therefore looking at legal and administrative steps to prevent vehicle owners from using fitness certification in another state as a way to bypass Karnataka requirements.

The next steps will depend on discussions between the transport authorities of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Meanwhile, cab and commercial vehicle operators are watching the developments closely as they look for a balance between complying with safety rules and managing the rising cost of keeping their vehicles on the road.