Fitness Certificates only at designated RTO locations geo-fenced through mVahan app

Karnataka's RTOs now issue Fitness Certificates exclusively at geo-fenced locations via the mVahan app, ensuring transparency and compliance.

The Karnataka Transport Department has implemented a geofencing-based mVahan Fitness mobile application across all 66 Regional Transport Office (RTO) offices in the State to bring transparency and curb irregularities in the issuance of Fitness Certificates (FCs) for commercial vehicles.

Minister for Transport Ramalinga Reddy said the system has been introduced to prevent malpractices that were earlier reported in the process of issuing FCs for registered commercial (transport) vehicles operating in the State. Karnataka has over 30 lakh registered commercial vehicles in operation.

There have been frequent allegations about lack of uniformity in the FC process, prompting the department to adopt technological measures. Recently, the HSR Layout police booked a retired Senior Motor Vehicle Inspector, Nisar Ahmed, for allegedly issuing over 10,000 FCs without conducting mandatory physical inspections. The alleged irregularity occurred between August 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026, when Ahmed was serving as motor vehicle inspector. He was booked after conducting a preliminary inquiry, which also revealed that certificates had been issued to 41 vehicles registered in Gujarat.

The new system, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), mandates vehicle inspections be carried out only at designated locations identified for each RTO office. These locations have been geo-fenced through the application to ensure that inspections take place only within authorised areas.

In a statement, the transport department said the vehicles must physically arrive at the designated inspection locations before examinations are conducted in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Act and relevant rules. During inspection, officials are required to capture at least six photographs of the vehicle through the application, and the fitness certificate will be issued only after the inspection details are approved in the system.

The department emphasised that issuing fitness certificates outside the designated geo-fenced inspection locations will not be possible under the new system. Regional Transport Officers have also been instructed to conduct a re-inspection of at least 20% of vehicles that approach for fitness certification.