In a significant move to enhance road safety and environmental standards, Manipur is set to establish its first-ever Inspection and Certification (I&C) Centre, also known as an Automated Testing Station (ATS), at Teramakhong village in Imphal East district.

A tripartite agreement was signed today among the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Government of India, the Transport Department of Manipur, and the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) for the project. The centre, to be located under Lamlai Assembly Constituency, will be constructed with a total sanctioned budget of ₹14.25 crore, fully funded by MoRTH.

The upcoming facility will feature a two-lane setup for Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) and Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) and will be equipped with advanced automated systems to test critical parameters such as brake efficiency, emissions, suspension, headlight alignment, and chassis integrity.

This development follows the Central Government’s directive under notification GSR 663(E) dated September 12, 2023, mandating that fitness tests for all commercial and light motor vehicles be conducted exclusively at ATSs. Currently, in the absence of such a facility in the state, fitness certifications are being issued manually by District Transport Officers as an interim measure.

Once operational, the ATS at Teramakhong will cater to both public and private vehicles, marking a major leap toward modernizing Manipur’s transport infrastructure and aligning with national safety and environmental norms. The state-of-the-art testing process is expected to reduce road accidents, improve air quality, and ensure transparency and fairness in vehicle fitness assessments.