CIRT for safer roads and efficient transport
The Pune-based Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) is playing an important role in elevating safety, performance and transport efficiency in India.
The Pune-based Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) is playing an important role in elevating safety, performance and transport efficiency in India.
The driving license tests in the Pune region are carried out at a modern testing facility called the Institute of Driving Training and Research (IDTR). Best and the most fool proof testing facility in India ever, IDTR is located over a 15 acres portion of the sprawling 90 acres campus of the Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT), which was established in 1967 as a joint initiative between the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU) & the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Government of India. A result of significant research carried across two generations of driver licensing procedures – proximity sensor-based and RFID-based, IDTR includes 15 different tracks – the shape of ‘eight’, ‘H’ and ‘S’, and a centre elevation. Developed by CIRT under a mandate from MoRTH, IDTR carries out camera-based video analytics employing a software developed specifically for the task. There is no manual intervention at all. Not stopping at that, CIRT is also helping various government agencies to replicate driving licensing infrastructure across India on the same lines. With Tata Motors having played a role in the setting up of IDTR, the facility includes heavy-duty vehicle and light motor vehicle simulators. IDTR also has cutaways of important aggregates like engines, transmissions, axles, turbochargers, etc., as part of the theoretical training it imparts.
roughness tester, the Auto lab tests brake linings, clutch facings, lubricating oil filters, diesel filters and air filters, oil seals, fan belts (cogged v-belts and v-ribbed belts), fuel and oil hoses, hydraulic brake hose assembly, radiator hoses, rubber hoses, water pumps, radiator pressure cap, fuel tanks (metallic and plastic), mechanical and hydraulic jacks, welding electrodes, plywood, ball and roller bearings, leaf spring assemblies and spring leaves, spring steel flats for leaf springs, piston, gudgeon pin and piston rings, high pressure fuel pipes and nozzle leakage pipes, fasteners, and wheel nut spanner and tommy bar.
The Environmental lab is equipped with horizontal flammability chamber, humidity chamber, PVC flexing machine, xenon arc weather (o meter ci – 4000 and ci – 5000) UV weather-o-meter (uv 2000), and vertical flammability chamber. Tests carried out here, include paints, safety glass, upholstery fabric, PVC flooring, PU foam, latex foam, bus body materials, etc. Undertaking the testing of batteries, lamps, switches, voltage regulators, alternators, wiping system, mirrors, cables, pressure and temperature gauges, carbon brushes, electrical fan, field coils, insulation tapes, etc., the Electrical lab is equipped with battery testing system for capacity, high rate discharge, life cycle tests of batteries for automobiles and other applications, electro dynamic vibration system, wheat stone and kelvin bridge, high voltage tester, spark test rig for cables, climate chamber, air circulating ovens, water spray chamber, dust chamber, salt spray test chamber, switch test rig, voltage regulator and alternator test rig, and co-efficient of friction test rig for carbon brushes. The Polymer lab tests retreading materials, extruded rubber products, tubes, flaps and other rubber components.
The structural dynamic laboratory at CIRT is equipped with special purpose machines and universal test machines to test various automotive subassemblies like steering, CV joint, ball joint, clutch plate assembly, etc. The metallurgical lab tests metallic auto components for their microstructure. It does inclusion rating, case depth, grain size measurement, hardness, tensile strength, impact strength, etc. The chemical lab carries out chemical analysis of ferrous and nonferrous materials. Recognised by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), and approved by MoRTH, the labs at CIRT perform testing and certification of components as well as materials in adherence to national and international standards.
Vehicle testing and homologation
MoRTH has created a technical secretariat at CIRT to enable the functioning of Automotive Industry Standards Committee (AISC), which reviews design safety, construction, operation and maintenance of motor vehicles with GVW of more than 3.5-tonnes. AISC comprises of MoRTH, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, National Automotive Testing, Research & Infrastructure Project, CIRT, ARAI, Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), VRDE, ICAT, Maharashtra Transport Commissioner’s Office, Karnataka Commissioner for Transport & Road Safety, SIAM, ASRTU, BIS, Tractor Manufacturers Association, ACMA, Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (ICEMA), Collaborative Advance Research for Transportation (CART), Association of Tamilnadu Coach Builders (ATCB), All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), and Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Tankers Bus Vahatuk Mahasangh (MRTTTBVM). Dr. Saner-Patil is
the chairman of AISC.
Playing an advisory role for vehicles above 3.5-tonnes to AISC, CIRT has acquired vital vehicle testing and homologation capabilities. According to Kakade, the institution has also certified two wheelers and LMVs apart from CVs. It was in 2007 that CIRT approached MoRTH for Safety and Homologation (S&H) certification. CIRT was working under MoRTH already, and the MoRTH secretary is CIRT president. CIRT also works under the apex motor vehicle regulations authority unlike other similar such institutions. Permission to certify all types of vehicles – right from a two wheeler to a heavy commercial vehicle, was secured. The S&H division of CIRT thus carries out certification. Avers Kakade, that CIRT is an authorised test agency for vehicle certification by MoRTH under the CMVR (Rule) 126. He adds, “CIRT commenced certification of motor vehicles in the year 2008, and has so far carried out vehicle certification for customers like Volvo Buses India, Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, AMW, Mahindra, Premier, Corona, and Scania. CIRT has also carried out certification of a good number of two wheelers and (electric) three wheelers as per the CMVR.” Interestingly, an automotive manufacturer is free to approach any authorised testing agency in India. He could approach CIRT or ARAI, or both. He could also approach some other agency. The advantage of approachhing CIRT, says Kakade, is transparency and neutrality. Drawing attention to CIRT being a member institution of AISC, WP.1, Dr. Saner-Patil mentions, “We do components testing and S&H. Considering the global scenario, S&H will assume good pace in the future.” “The movement to hybrid and electric vehicles will demand that we upgrade and modify our capabilities and facilities,” he adds.
For S&H, CIRT uses the VRDE test track at Ahmednagar. It has acquired the necessary equipment for the task. Certification of bus body builders occupies a major portion of S&H activities. Bus body builders are accreditated; their plant audits are carried out. If this activity contributes good amount of revenue to CIRT, an important role S&H division plays is in the inspection of different types of buses. These include diesel and CNG buses; AC and non-AC buses; special purpose buses, including school buses and ambulances. The S&H division also undertakes third party inspection. It is this experience that has got CIRT to play an important role in the formulation of Automotive Industry Standards and Indian Standards. The S&H division also undertakes activity of Conformity of Production (COP) and type approval for safety critical components. The vehicle crash test lab tests structural strength of trucks and buses as per national and international standards. Cabin roof strength, under run protection, water proofing, cold start-ability, corrosion resistance, and climatic aging of vehicles is checked using equipment like frontal impact test rig, rear underrun protective device test facility, rear wall strength test rig, roll over test facility, roof strength test rig, climatic chamber, and shower testing facility. The first 15 m tarmac bus is currently undergoing testing at CIRT, and is expected to soon complete it.
Consultancy services
Consultancy services form an important part of CIRT’s functioing. They were born out of the creation of a database, which Dr. Saner-Patil describes as cohesive and the maximum in Asia. Consultancy competencies at CIRT include transport planning, traffic engineering and management, road safety audit and public transport, parking space management, pedestrian master
plan, intelligent transport system, project management for automated inspection and certification, automated driving licensing (IDTR), planning for tracks and other allied infrastructure for driver training institutes, planning and designing for integrated border check post, innovative Driving Test System (IDTS) using RFID technology, preparation of DPR for bus fleet procurement under JNNURM, and issues pertaining to Motor Vehicles Act and CMVR. CIRT also does organisational restructuring for transport undertakings. Avers Shekhar N Dhole, Scientist, Safety & Homologation, CIRT, “CIRT has developed in the region of 450 specifications – right from a washer to a crankshaft. CIRT developed AS44 standard for tyres, which was later adopted by IS and became an IS standard. A nodal agency for buses, CIRT certifies e-rickshaws.” He adds,“CIRT caters to complete certification of buses procured by STUs and others. CIRT is playing a key role in the development of double-decker and sleeper coach standards. For any and every standard that we define, safety is at the forefront.”
CIRT has played a crucial role in the development of sleeper coach code (AIS 119), which is claimed to be the first of its kind in the world. For the development of this code, CIRT studied sleeper coaches in Europe and China among other markets. Instrumental in developing such codes and specifications, CIRT also trains RTOs to decipher type approval certficates and Conformity of Production (COP). A neutral body that CIRT is, what stands out, is the passion with which the team there works. Keeping up with the changing times – no vehicle is tested since October 01, 2016, that does not conform to EMC standards, CIRT offers STUs turnkey projects where it will carry out tasks right from the development of specifications to third-party inspections. Also involved in the testing and certification of ethanol bus, CIRT, says Dhole, carried out third-aprty inspection of the first 500 PMPL buses. These buses, he adds, were subjected to inspection in three stages – at the structural stage, at the panelling stage and at the fullybuilt bus stage. This, apart from a shower test. Keeping safety at the helm of any activity it performs, CIRT is well aware of its duty towards the society. The institution is working on many exciting projects, both in the area of S&H, and consultancy. These projects will assume shape in the years to come, underlining the solid work done by CIRT. Signs off Dr. Saner-Patil, “With the amount of faith MoRTH has put in CIRT, we are confident of supporting as well as setting up new benchmarks.”