Automated Testing Lane to be introduced on Chardham route

Dehra Dun, May 24 (PTI) With road accidents on rise on Chardham Yatra route in Uttarakhand's hilly areas, the state government has decided to introduce an Automated Testing Lane (ATL) for conducting technical checking of vehicles in just 20 minutes. Currently, the vehicle fitness checking is conducted by transport department at 15 different places before they head to Yatra routes, but there is no facility for engine and technical checking in short-period. With the introduction of ATL, all the technical checking of vehicles would be conducted in just 20 minutes. The government took the decision at a meeting on Chardham Yatra held last evening, according to an official statement. Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain, who chaired the meeting, asked the BRO, PWD, Transport and police departments to make on the spot inspection of all the identified accident-prone areas and submit their report to him specifying what measures could be taken in any particular place to check accidents. Two days back, 27 pilgrims from Madhya Pradesh were killed and 16 others injured at Kodiyala area of Tehri district when the bus they were travelling in fell into the Ganga river. Installation of GPS in all the vehicles would also be made mandatory. This would help in recording location, speed and condition of the vehicle and would come handy in checking over-speeding and overtaking, Jain said. Jain also asked the officials to impose a fine on the vehicles completing the Chardham yatra in less than 10 days.