Old LPG Auto Owners Get Relief From Fitness Certificate
Owners can transfer ageing LPG and CNG autos for scrapping and replacement with cleaner vehicles.
Hyderabad: In a major relief to owners of old LPG and CNG auto-rickshaws operating within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) limits, the transport department has permitted the transfer of vehicle ownership or city permits without insisting on the renewal of the Fitness Certificate, if they agree to scrap the old vehicle.
The measure will enable owners to transfer their ageing auto-rickshaws and permits to buyers who intend to replace them with new LPG, CNG or electric auto-rickshaws under the same permit.
The transport department had received several representations highlighting difficulties caused by the existing provisions in the CFST software. Under the system, a valid Fitness Certificate was mandatory for processing the transfer of registration or permit.
As a result, buyers of old auto-rickshaws were required to obtain a fresh Fitness Certificate even when the vehicle was intended to be scrapped immediately after the transfer. Auto-rickshaw owners and buyers complained that the requirement imposed an unnecessary financial burden and delayed the replacement of old vehicles.
After examining the representations, the transport commissioner issued revised instructions through Memo No. 6027/R/2021, dated July 24, 2026.
Under the instructions, transport authorities can permit the transfer of ownership or city permits relating to old LPG or CNG auto-rickshaws within the ORR limits without requiring renewal of the Fitness Certificate.
However, the transferee must submit a formal undertaking declaring that the old auto-rickshaw will not be driven on public roads after the transfer. The transferee must also undertake to scrap the vehicle within three months from the date on which the ownership or permit is transferred.
The relaxation is expected to facilitate the replacement of ageing auto-rickshaws with cleaner and more efficient vehicles. It could particularly encourage owners to shift to electric auto-rickshaws, apart from newer LPG and CNG models.
The decision removes the need to spend money on obtaining fitness clearance for vehicles that are already earmarked for dismantling. At the same time, the undertaking and three-month scrapping deadline are intended to ensure that unfit vehicles do not return to the roads.
