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Kinyarwanda
Motorists have welcomed the extension of operating hours at the Motor-vehicle Mechanical Inspection Center (MIC) saying it has improved service delivery.
Rwanda National Police (RNP), last week announced the extension of working hours from 6m to midnight. The new changes also reduced time after booking for inspection from 24 hours waiting period to just one hour.
When this reporter visited MIC in Remera Sector, Gasabo District at about 10am, queues of vehicles could be seen with majority drivers saying they had booked for inspection that very morning.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jean Marie Ndushabandi, the spokesperson for Traffic and Road Safety Department, the changes were informed by the need to improve efficiency and effectiveness in offering better services.
"It's all about facilitating motorists to excess services without any burdens and without affecting their businesses," SSP Ndushabandi said.
"The reduction of the waiting hours and increase in operating hours will encourage more drivers to go for the inspection services, thus preventing accidents resulting from mechanical faults," he added.
The new changes, the traffic spokesperson said, increased the capacity of inspection from 650 to about 900 vehicles per day," SSP Ndushabandi said.
Pass level
MIC checks the slide-slip (0-7 pass), front & rear axles (0-25 pass), parking brake (0-50 pass), gas emission (0-5 pass) headlights (0-2 Pass).
Above these measurements, the vehicle is required to be fixed before it's brought back within 14 maximum days for further inspection.
Gilbert Muhirwa, a resident of Kayonza District was all smiles when this reporter spoke to him in the waiting room at MIC.
“The experience today is by far good compared to when I was last here. I arrived 15 minutes late and officers here helped, the time one spends here is now much more predictable and facilitates forward planning… I don’t have to be back the following day for a certificate of inspection,” he said.
Louis Bizumuremyi
“I have been here for about 30 minutes, everyone can observe the services have greatly improved. There's no excuse now; you can even bring your vehicle for inspection after work, and it takes few minutes."
Phoebe Kasabiti
“When they find some mechanic faults, you can now manage to fix them and be back and get your certificate the same day unlike before… It’s now easy, you can book online and have time to arrange every requirement to have a certificate and have it in one day.”
Benjamin Kayonga
“There used to be along and cumbersome queue for MIC services on a small parking lot, I was surprised that I spent 32 minutes here.”
MIC has five lanes, meaning it inspects five vehicles at once. The inspection time for each vehicle takes about five minutes.
Jean Bosco Karangwa, driver for the public service vehicle
“Everything is automated and transparent, this issue of waiting for long and irregular hours was a serious hindrance some drivers would be tempted to give bribes. So, such good services also prevent acts of corruption.”
What is required for inspection
Upon arrival at Motor-vehicle Inspection Centre (MIC), the driver is required to present appointment SMS, proof of payment, vehicle logbook, copies of national ID, driver's license, insurance and the original copy of the expired MIC certificate.
Unscrupulous drivers
Police also warned some unscrupulous drivers, who mislead and lie to their bosses that extra payments other than what is provided by law, is required in order to access the motor-vehicle inspection (MIC) services.
SSP Ndushanbandi wondered why some people would fall for such lies in such a clear and very open process.
“We received some reports that this is taking place and being perpetrated by drivers. No other paymemt required other than what is stated in the law, and no payment made to an individual. These are intolerable acts of corruption that shouldnt be entertained whatsoever,” SSP Ndushabandi said.
