Bus loans: fitness certificates and permits

Why it matters

A bus with an expired fitness certificate cannot legally carry passengers. A tourist bus without a valid tourist permit cannot take bookings across state lines. Either one stops the income completely, often in the weeks before the peak season, when operators are short of cash and put off renewals.

What to track

• Fitness certificate: renewed every year for buses older than eight years, every two years before that. Renewal needs the bus at the RTO or an authorised testing centre, so it is off the road for a day or two.
• Permit: stage-carriage, contract-carriage or tourist. Tourist permits are renewed annually.
• Insurance: passenger liability cover must be in force.

The EWS raises C2 (fitness expired, 10 points) and C3 (permit expiring within 30 days, 8 points) from Vahan.

What to do

1. Call as soon as C2 or C3 appears. Offer to help: many operators simply have not had the time to take the bus to the RTO.
2. If cash is the problem, a short rescheduling of one instalment (KB-005) costs less than a bus off the road through October and November.
3. Record the renewal date on the case. If it hasn't happened within 15 days, arrange a field visit.

In Rajasthan and Gujarat

Tourist operators earn most of their year between October and February. A permit lapse on 31 October is far more expensive than one in June. Prioritise those cases.