Safety concerns raised as RTO agent crushed to death under truck

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

A tragic accident at the automated testing station (ATS) in Karodi has once again raised questions about safety at vehicle fitness centres. On Tuesday, an agent died after being caught under a truck while the vehicle was undergoing fitness testing in a section of the ATS that shares space with a private fitness centre.

ATS at Karodi

The ATS, located at the RTO premises in Karodi, began operations in February. The centre is equipped with computer-assisted automated systems to inspect vehicles and issue fitness certification (also called as I & C) under the supervision of motor vehicle inspectors. Agents were not supposed to have access to the testing area, but in practice, unrestricted entry has been reported, highlighting lapses in security.

Efforts to restrict access

Manohar Devre, ATS manager, said: “The incident occurred while the truck was being parked for testing. The motor vehicle inspector and I have lodged a complaint. Measures are being taken to ensure that only vehicle owners and authorised personnel enter the fitness centre.”

Safety instructions issued

RTO Vijay Kathole said that the ATS is a dedicated vehicle fitness centre, and the management has been instructed to take strict precautions to prevent such accidents in the future.