New Delhi, July 16 -- The transport department will lay the foundation stone for Delhi's second automated testing centre (ATC) for commercial vehicles near the Nand Nagri bus depot in northeast Delhi on Thursday, officials said. The upcoming facility will add capacity to test 72,000 vehicles annually. Currently, Delhi has around 4.5 lakh commercial vehicles that must undergo fitness testing each year. However, the city's only existing automated centre at Jhuljhuli can handle just about 2 lakh. The rest are tested outside Delhi, leading to losses. "The single automated centre in Jhuljhuli is overcrowded, and it takes days to get an appointment for testing. This forces several vehicles registered in Delhi to get tested and renew their permits from other states," said an official, requesting anonymity. The new ATC is expected to generate at least Rs.3 crore annually, which currently goes to other states. Last year, the Centre mandated that states set up ATCs to issue fitness permits. As per law, commercial vehicles must undergo fitness tests every 2-8 years, and then annually. The new Rs.2.5 crore centre will have four testing lanes and is expected to be ready in two to three months....