ARAI sets up cell to assist bus body makers in certification process

Mumbai, May 19 (PTI) Pune-based Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) on Tuesday said it has set up a support cell for bus body makers to help them in obtaining the necessary certification.
     A dedicated webpage has been created outlining all the necessary information related to bus body certification. In the pre-application stage, the team will provide technical and design support for development of the bus body, ARAI said in a statement.
     To expedite the process further, document formats like variant lists, checklists have been simplified to resolve worst-case selection criteria, ARAI said.
     Certification in accordance with the Bus Body Code is mandatory for all buses having a seating capacity of 13 passengers plus driver (13+D) and above, as per certain provision of General Safety Rule of March 2024.
     Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced last month that new buses, including inter-city and sleeper coaches, won't be registered by regional transport offices without inspection of all mandatory safety features.
     Under this regime, the minister had said, vehicle manufacturers, bus body makers and the respective RTO will have to upload the filled checklist on the government's VAHAN portal, ensuring stakeholders are taking necessary steps to comply with safety features.
     "We want to assist the bus body builders in their certification process at all stages, including development and testing before they apply for certification. This will ensure that safety remains our utmost priority and consequently a reliable transport system for the public is built in our country," ARAI Director Reji Mathai said.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)