No Two-Driver Rule Anymore For All-India Permit Vehicles, Among A Slew Of Other Reliefs, Instructions

The Ministry for Road Transport and Highways on Saturday announced that national permit vehicles can now be driven without two drivers. Also from now on, the requirement of having dark brown body colour for such vehicles will no longer be mandatory.

However, it added a few extra rules in the statement. It said the word “National Permit or N/P” has to be written in bold letters in front and rear of the vehicles, and that in case of trailers, the letters “N/P” should be inscribed on the rear and left side of the vehicle.

Earlier, the renewal of fitness certificates for these vehicles was required every year, but now the renewal of fitness certificates in respect of transport vehicles will now be every two years for vehicles close to eight years old, and one year for vehicles older than eight years.

The statement further added, “The body of a tanker carrying dangerous or hazardous goods should be painted in white colour and should display the class label. It has to be fitted with the FASTag. The vehicle shall be affixed with reflective tapes in front and the rear. They will also be fitted with a vehicle tracking system. It will not load up or set down goods between two points in the same state, if restricted by a particular state,” reports Livemint.

Keeping in mind the nuisance caused to citizens, goods vehicles cannot carry goods openly. They can carry them in the final body or covered by tarpaulin etc. under rule 138B.

With All India Motor Transport Congress hailing the move, citizens are now not required to carry documents in physical form while driving even though enforcement authorities were still pressing for the same.