VET certificate a must for revenue licence from Oct. 1

by Lalin Fernandopulle

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All motor vehicle owners will have to obtain the Vehicle Emission Test (VET) Certificate to be eligible for the Revenue Licence from October 1.

A Gazette notification issued on January 25 this year has made it mandatory that motor vehicle owners should pass the VET to qualify for the Revenue Licence. The objectives of the program are to minimise carbon emission, make vehicles’ fuel efficient and environment friendly. A change of attitude towards using vehicles which are in good condition is a long-term objective.

Director, CleanCo (Pvt) Ltd., Dr. Nishantha Nanayakkara said the VET program will help to save fuel and reduce the number of low quality vehicles within the next few years.

India has been able to improve the quality of vehicles and reduce carbon emission by testing the emission levels of vehicles.

Eight mobile and 32 fixed stations will be set up throughout the country by CleanCo (Pvt) Ltd. and Laugfs Holdings to conduct the tests. Air Mac, the steering committee comprising ministry and university experts will advise the Registration of Motor Vehicles (RMV) and monitor the progress of the project.

Dr. Nanayakkara said there will be no manipulation or issuing of bogus certificates since the system will generate certificates automatically for vehicles which comply with the required standards.

Information regarding the vehicle will be stored in a bar code. The system will be sophisticated and of high standard unlike obtaining a fitness certificate.

A test has to be completed within six minutes. Owners of new vehicles are not required to obtain the VET certificate for three years.

The VET fee for vehicles is as follows; motor-cycles (Petrol) Rs. 247.50, motor-cycles (Diesel) Rs. 247.50, motor- tricycles (Petrol) Rs. 302.50, motor tricycles (Diesel) Rs. 302.50, cars (Petrol) Rs. 660, cars (Diesel) Rs. 660, dual purpose vehicles (Petrol) Rs. 715, dual purpose vehicles (Diesel) Rs. 715, motor lorries (Petrol) Rs. 935, motor lorries (Diesel) Rs. 935, buses (Petrol) Rs. 605 and buses (Diesel) Rs. 605 and prime movers (Diesel) Rs. 990. Ten per cent of the income from the program will be allocated to the VET Fund to monitor the progress of the tests and ensure that they comply with the standards.

The RMV has already taken steps to register garages which are equipped with suitable machinery to meet the VET certification standards.

The investment for the project is Rs. 1.1 billion.