This is the story of Mr. Rajan Chauhan, a businessman in North Delhi. Mr. Chauhan is a reputed tradesman, dealing in cloth manufacturing and shipping. As his business expanded, he resolved to venture into other avenues and multiply his growth prospects. He realized that the need for passenger vehicles, especially in a city like New Delhi, is growing exponentially. So Mr. Chauhan decided to invest in and start his own cab service, with 10 cars in his fleet to begin with. He interviewed drivers, verified their credentials and conducted thorough background checks. He ensured that the drivers possessed a commercial vehicle license. He read up on all the regulations and permits needed to embark on this new business vertical. However, there was one mandate that should have kept him in good stead with the authorities, but instead landed his business in trouble: AIS 140. Here’s how..
The government of India has made it mandatory for all commercial passenger vehicles to install a vehicle tracking system, that includes camera surveillance and an emergency button for the passengers. The idea behind this mandate was to ensure public safety, and have the transportation sector of India run smoothly at the same time. As of April 1, 2018, this regulation has been enforced in full swing, with the transport authorities coming down hard on the violators.
So when people like Mr. Chauhan got to know of this protocol being implemented, their first step was naturally to comply with the standard. And so they set forth to the markets, willing to buy AIS 140 certified vehicle tracking systems by the bulk. Here is when the problem started.
When we spoke to Mr. Rajan Chauhan, he was distressed. He said, “I was duped beyond belief. To start off my cab business, I went in to buy AIS 140 certified trackers. And I did find them, at a cheap price at that. Happily, I went in to register this new facet of my business. However, I could not receive the RTO approval because it turned out that the devices I had bought were nowhere in compliance with AIS 140!”.
Mr. Chauhan is not the only one who has been the victim of this scam. Many vendors are set on duping their gullible customers by claiming their devices to be aligned with the AIS 140 standard. They further seal the deal by selling them off at cheap prices, thus attracting more buyers. The issue is escalating as we speak, primarily due to lack of information among the general public. Information regarding the mandate is available, but limited awareness is the strong point of business for such vendors.
Many commercial fleet owners have been privy to such frauds. The issue comes into light only when the business owner goes on to get the approval from the Regional Transport Office. By then, the transaction gets complete, the vendors pockets the money and the buyer is left stranded. The fraudulent sellers also confuse the buyers by selling them a vehicle tracking device that actually includes the GPS components. However, it is to be noted that merely using a certified GPS device in no way ensures that it will be AIS 140 compliant.
Another problem that commercial vehicle owners are facing is the fact that while AIS 140 certification is being taken for device A, the actual supply is being made for device B. The vendors end up saving costs as they sell device B for cheap, and make considerable profits.
The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) has relayed descriptive guidelines that specify the exact requirements a vehicle tracking system must meet in order to be AIS 140 compliant. The device must possess a range of alerts, from location updates, history, harsh braking to wayward driving, device tampering and much more. Along with that, the emergency buttons must be deployed within the vehicle, and are to be tested to ensure that they trigger alerts to the control room when pressed.
Mr. Chauhan, a disappointed customer, wishes for authentic and qualified sellers that can help people like him get AIS 140 certified devices with ease. Sale of these devices in the black market is eating up the share of genuine sellers, hindering their progress to come to the forefront. As a buyer, it is important that you know what you are getting into, and should be aware of all government policies and regulations to run your business optimally. However, there are certain providers that ensure their vehicle tracking systems are AIS 140 certified, and even help with obtaining RTO approval. Many of such providers also help in other facets of the business, from insurance to vehicle trade.