Plans are underway to introduce a Mobile Vehicle Inspection Station to facilitate owners of vehicles operating in the countryside, police announced yesterday.

In an interview, Benoit Nsengiyumva, the head of the Remera-based Motor-Vehicle Inspection Centre (MIC), explained that they are currently going through procedures to acquire the mobile facility.

"We are currently in the tendering process. Traveling to Kigali is time consuming for many,” said Nsengiyumva.The introduction of the mobile equipment is part of the centre’s programme to decentralise the vehicles’ mechanical inspection system in Huye, Rwamagana and Musanze.

Currently, there is only one inspection centre, based in Remera, Gasabo District to serve the over 46,000 cars, presently in the country.

Last year, the centre increased its inspection service by over 106 percent to 29,445 vehicles, up from 14, 281 vehicles that were inspected the previous year, following the establishment of a third inspection lane. Rwanda is the only country with such a centre in the region.

The centre was established in 2008 to examine the mechanical condition of vehicles, which are believed to be one of the causes of traffic accidents.

It inspects, among others, the lighting and braking systems, wheel alignment and vehicle geometry and steering system, as well as gas emission.

Business vehicles are inspected twice while private vehicles are inspected once a year.