The Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) was established in 1967 on the joint initiative of the Ministry of Shipping & Transport & the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings. CIRT is committed to improving the efficiency & productivity of the transport sector, with particular emphasis on the STU. CIRT has been offering technical training, consultancy and automobile component testing services to the STU fraternity for the last 59 years.

CIRT offers management development programmes covering general management, transport operations and maintenance engineering. The programmes are meant for practising managers in STUs, other organisations operating transport services besides road transport officials. All programmes are residential and their duration ranges from one week to four weeks. In addition, the Institute undertakes consultancy and research assignments on transport policy, transportation planning, traffic management, maintenance management, materials management, human resource management and management information systems. With the assistance of international agencies such as UNDP and the British Council, CIRT has strengthened its core competence and is now regarded as a major management development centre in the country. CIRT has a sophisticated automobile component testing laboratory, recognised by the Bureau of Indian Standards for testing a wide range of automobile components. ASRTU relies on the test reports of CIRT while awarding rate contracts to automobile component manufacturers. The joint endeavour of ASRTU and CIRT for monitoring the quality of auto parts has stood the test of time and has become an indispensable input for upgrading quality and ensuring cost-effectiveness.

The Institute is an active member of the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) and the Association of Management Development Institutions in South Asia (AMDISA). The Institutes publications provide a window on the transport industry and are avidly sought by the Planning Commission, World Bank and several other leading national and international organisations. The Indian Journal of Transport Management which is published quarterly has, over the years, become a forum for exchange of ideas not only on road transport but in general management and overall transport policies as well.

CIRT is located on a spacious, verdant campus of 90 acres with modern library, residential and recreational facilities, providing a backdrop for serious study and intellectual pursuit. The Government of India is deputing senior IPS officers for programmes on Traffic and Transportation Management and Improving Managerial Effectiveness Through Inter-personal Skills.

CIRT is also recognised for NABL accreditation as per ISO/IEC 17025:1999 for testing of Tyres, Wheel Rims, Safety Glass, Fabric (woven), Fabric (non-woven), Industrial Textile, Ply Board, Metallography (Metallurgical test), Rubbers, Vibration Test, Battery, Auto Lamps (Photometry) and Metal Analysis (Material Identification). CIRT has set up two centres of special studies with the assistance of Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. They are (i) Centre for Road Safety, and (ii) Centre for Transport Policy and Economics. These Centres will develop into think tanks on these subjects in order to produce appropriate reports to enable policy making and its implementation.

Central Institute of Road Transport

Institutional Profile & Key Milestones (1967–2026)

Pune | Established 1967 | Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

Brief about CIRT

Established in 1967 through a joint initiative of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) and the Association of State Road Transport Undertakings (ASRTU), the Central Institute of Road Transport has, for over five decades, served as India’s apex organization for vehicle and component testing & certification, automotive research, consultancy, training & Capacity building. Authorized under Rules 124 and 125 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR),by MoRTH, Govt of India, CIRT plays a pivotal role in defining and upholding road transport safety standards while enhancing the efficiency and productivity of the transport sector, particularly State Transport Undertakings (STUs), Automotive OEMs, and Tier-1 & Tier-2 component suppliers.

Divisions of CIRT

Safety & Homologation Division (SHD)

Established under authorization (CMVR Rule 126) of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Government of India, the Safety & Homologation Division (SHD) of CIRT is primarily responsible for Complete Vehicle & Automotive Component Type Approval and development of Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) and Bureau of Indian Standards (IS).

The Division’s strength lies in its experienced engineering professionals and the support of the Automotive Testing Division with eleven NABL-accredited laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art testing facilities for vehicles and components. SHD conducts type approvals for a wide range of vehicles, from two-wheelers to heavy commercial vehicles, construction equipment vehicles (CEVs), and agricultural tractors.

Key activities of SHD include

Type Approval Certification (TAC) and Conformity of Production (COP) for vehicles and safety components under CMVR.

• Research & Development projects on alternative fuels and technologies such as LNG buses and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles in collaboration with MoRTH, CSIR laboratories, MEDA, and startups.
• Approval of imported vehicles based on EEC/ECE/Japanese Whole Vehicle Type Approval Certificates.
• Accreditation and audits of bus manufacturers and bus body builders.
• Development of Automotive Industry Standards (AIS) and participation in national standardization committees.
• Technical support and third-party inspections for bus procurement and PM E-Bus projects.
• Audits of Automated Testing Stations (ATS) and Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSF).

Recent major achievements include Electric Bus Type Approval Certification projects for manufacturers such as Olectra Ltd., Veera Vidhut Vahana Pvt. Ltd., Aero Eagle Automobiles Pvt. Ltd., and M&M Ltd., along with various range testing, structural tests, installation-level tests, and AIS-052, AIS-119, and AIS-153 bus body approvals across India.

Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (Bharat NCAP)

As the Designated Agency for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), CIRT leads the operational and technical governance of the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme (BNCAP). Bharat NCAP is India's independent voice on vehicle safety and the official New Car Assessment Program for India. It was launched by MoRTH, Government of India on 22 August 2023.

Automotive Cybersecurity Division

CIRT has established the Automotive Cyber Security Division to address emerging cyber threats in connected, software-defined, electric, and intelligent vehicles. The Division is dedicated to strengthening cyber resilience across the automotive ecosystem and supporting the industry in meeting evolving national and global cybersecurity regulations and standards.

The key activities undertaken by the Division include:

• Automotive Cybersecurity Assessment, Testing, Vulnerability Analysis, and Penetration Testing (VAPT)
• Cybersecurity Risk Assessment, Gap Analysis, and Compliance Support for ISO/SAE 21434, UNECE R155/R156, and AIS-189
• Software Update Management System (SUMS), Connected Vehicle, V2X, and EV Cybersecurity Evaluation
• Cybersecurity Audits for issuance of CoC for CSMS & SUMS, Vehicle Type Approval for AIS:189/190, Technical Consultancy, and Functional Safety Integration Support
• Research & Development in Emerging Automotive Technologies and Cybersecurity Frameworks
• Specialized Training, Workshops, Capacity Building, and Industry Collaboration Initiatives

Through its advanced technical expertise and industry-oriented approach, CIRT aims to play a pivotal role in building a secure, resilient, and future-ready automotive ecosystem for India.

Research & Consultancy Division

The Research & Consultancy Division undertakes monitoring, execution support, Project Management Consultancy (PMC), and evaluation activities for a wide range of projects funded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The Division plays a key role in supporting national initiatives related to road safety, driver training, vehicle testing, and public transport modernization across various states in India.

Its areas of engagement include Integrated Driving Training Institutes (IDTRs), Regional Driving Training Centres (RDTCs), Driving Training Centres (DTCs), Automated Driving Testing Tracks (ADTTs), Automated Testing Stations (ATS), and the procurement and deployment of Electric, Diesel, and CNG buses for public transport systems.

Training & Management Development Centre

CIRT offers Management Development Programmes covering Foundation & Refresher Training for Officials of Motor Vehicles Department, Police Departments etc. general management, transport operations and maintenance engineering to STUs.

CIRT has strengthened its core competence and was playing major role in capacity building for the Officers of Motor Vehicles Department, Police Departments & STUs and is now regarded as a major Management Development Centre in the country by training 80,000+ officials through 2000+ training programmes conducted in last half century.

CIRT is having State-of-the-art training infrastructure comprising a modern auditorium, conference hall, seminar halls, fully equipped classrooms, hostels, and guest house facilities, with the capacity to accommodate and train up to 120 participants at a time.

Automobile Component Testing

The Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) houses a comprehensive suite of advanced testing laboratories accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) and recognized by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for evaluation and certification of a wide range of automobile components. These state-of-the-art facilities include the Tyre Laboratory, Vehicle Component Laboratory (VCL), Electrical Laboratory, Polymer Laboratory, Photometric Laboratory, and Auto Laboratory, along with specialized facilities such as the Structural Dynamics Laboratory, Environmental Laboratory, Petroleum Laboratory, Metallurgical Laboratory, and Chemical Laboratory for rigorous testing, analysis, and quality monitoring.

The laboratories provide critical testing and validation services to State Transport Undertakings (STUs), vehicle manufacturers, and Tier-1 & Tier-2 component suppliers, ensuring that automotive parts and systems comply with applicable safety, performance, durability, CMVR, and BIS standards while promoting reliability, quality, and cost-effectiveness in the automotive and road transport sector.

Publications

The Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) publishes the Indian Journal of Transport Management (IJTM) quarterly and the State Transport Undertakings (STUs) – Profile & Performance annually. These publications provide valuable insights into the transport sector and are widely referred to by organizations such as the Planning Commission, World Bank, and other leading national and international institutions.

Over the years, IJTM has emerged as an important platform for the exchange of ideas on road transport, transport policies, management practices, and broader mobility issues. The annual STUs – Profile & Performance publication serves as a key reference for analysing and benchmarking the operational and financial performance of State Transport Undertakings across India.

Accreditations & Recognitions

MoRTH Recognition: Having MoRTH Authorization under CMV Rules 124 & 126 as a notified Testing and Certification Agency for Vehicle & Component Certification.

MoRTH AISC Secretariat: For Vehicles with GVW exceeding 3.5 Tonnes

NABL Accreditation: All the Labs of CIRT are having Accreditation by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL).

BIS Accreditation: For Tyres, Tubes & Wheel Rims testing

MoRTH Secretariat: CIRT have established MoRTH Secretariat for Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety, WP.1 of UNECE

SIRO Recognition: CIRT is having recognition by Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation by DSIR, Ministry of Science & Technology, Government of India

Key Milestones (1967–2026)

The following timeline documents CIRT's institutional journey from its founding in 1967 to the present, capturing landmark achievements in testing, certification, Training, Consultancy homologation, digital mobility, and automotive cybersecurity.