Validity of transport papers extended till March 31

LUCKNOW: All the transport documents, including driving licence, registration certificate and fitness papers the validity of which expired on or after February 1, 2020 prior to the Covid-19 lockdown, will be treated as valid till March 31, 2021.

The Central government has given yet another extension to the validity of documents related to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Central Motor Rules, 1989 with a view to preventing the spread of Covid-19 by ensuring that people do not have to visit regional transport offices (RTOs) to get their documents renewed.

The ministry of road transport and highways on Sunday issued an advisory to all the states and Union territories in this regard, asking them to take necessary steps to comply with the fresh directives.

“We have received the Central government’s advisory only in the morning on Sunday, saying that the validity of all transport documents that expired on or after February 1, 2020 has been further extended till March 31, 2021,” transport commissioner Dheeraj Sahu said.

The ministry of road transport and highways had issued advisories dated March 30, 2020, June 9, 2020 and August 24, 2020 regarding extension of validity of documents following the lockdown in different stages in the country and in several countries abroad. It was advised that the validity of fitness, permit (all types), licence, registration or any other concerning document(s) may be treated to be valid till December 31, 2020.

The ministry, in its advisory, has noted that a renewal of transport documents is still leading to assembly of people and long queues in front of the transport offices across the country.

“Taking into consideration the need to prevent the spread of Covid-19, it is further advised that all of the above referred documents may be treated to be valid till 31st March 2021,” the advisory says.

This, according to the advisory, covers all documents whose validity has expired since Feb 1, 2020 or would expire by 31st March 2021. “Enforcement authorities are advised to treat such documents valid till 31st of March 2021. This will help out citizens in availing transport related services, while maintaining social distancing,” it says.

Sahu said the Centre’s advisory was being communicated to all the enforcement authorities, asking them to act upon the same so that nobody was harassed if his transport document was not renewed by December 31.