Relief to road builders: Heavy earthmoving machinery gets exemption from MV Act

Addressing the demand of road contractors and equipment makers, the Centre has directed states to not register road building and heavy earthmoving machinery under the Motor Vehicle Act. The heavy road construction machinery is not a motor vehicle and is not covered under this provision. The Ministry has requested the States and UTs to not insist upon registration and driving licence for these machines. It has received a number of representations regarding road building and rehabilitation equipment, wherein concern regarding registration of cold recycling machines and soil stabilization machine (road building and rehabilitation equipment) under Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), 1989 has been raised. The representations have clarified that Cold milling machines are used to salvage the crust of the existing bituminous pavement to recover the asphalt material and re-use them to conserve aggregate and bitumen and save the associates costs of mining and crushing. The extracted bitumen leads to saving of bituminous thus saving of forex. The work awarded to the concessionaire by the employer is within a given range of chain-age. The operating speed of the equipment is 5-10 km and these equipment are deployed at the worksite through trailers. Concern regarding registration of Heavy Earth Moving Machineries (HEMM) equipment and their operation has been raised and the move is a step to address them. HEMM such as Dumpers, Payloaders, Shovels, Drill Master, Bulldozers, Motor Grader and Rock breakers are categorized as 'Off the Road' operated and maintained within mine boundary under sole management, supervision and control of Mines Manager and never used outside the mine boundary, and are not covered under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.