T.N. govt. defers Union Road Ministry’s notification on fee enhancement by three months

The Tamil Nadu government has decided not to give effect to the higher rates of fee for conducting tests/certificate fee for grant or renewal of fitness certificate for motor vehicles, as notified by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on November 11 last year.

The State government has also decided that the lower rates of fee prevailing before November 11, 2025, would continue to be collected in Tamil Nadu for three months from the date of issuance of its G.O. dated February 17, 2026.

The Union Ministry for Road Transport and Highways on November 11, 2025, issued a notification enhancing the fee for conducting test/certificate fee for grant or renewal of certificate of fitness for transport vehicles. The State Lorry Owners Association, however, made a representation contending that the enhancement affected the livelihood of lorry owners.

On February 16 this year, the Tamil Nadu Sand Lorry Owner Federation and Chennai Local Lorry Owner Association represented that the enhanced fee directly affected their earnings, as well as that of the drivers and coolies concerned. It requested not to implement the enhanced fee or considered a reduction like in States like Kerala.

The Transport and Road Safety Commissioner, in exercise of the powers delegated as per First proviso to Rule 81 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, requested the State government for temporarily staying/deferring the notification of the Union Ministry up to three months.