Project management constraints and operationalisation dimensions of vehicle emission testing (VET) programme

Abstract

Project Management constraints and operationalisation dimensions of Vehicle Emission Testing (VET) program Urban air pollution was becoming an issue in Sri Lanka especially towards late 1990’s. It was evident that the transport sector was the largest contributor to the overall total emissions for all pollutants. Analysis of air quality data had suggested the ever increasing vehicle fleetas the major culprit. Poor vehicle maintenance, absence of a system to monitor, control and regulate vehicular emissions, and low quality fuels contributed towards increased emissions from vehicles.Therefore, government intervention was required to reverse the trend of deteriorating air quality and mitigate the accompanying adverse health effects caused by exposure to fine particles, lead and other vehicular emissions. With the roles, responsibilities and expertise dispersed within several organizations, to curb air pollution, in year 2001, created Air Resource Management Center (AirMAC): a multistakeholder organization as a strong partnership institution linking all stakeholder agencies. AirMAC initiated Vehicle Emission Testing (VET) to monitor and control level of emission generated by vehicles in Sri Lanka in 2008. The main sponsoring body of the VET programme is Ministry of Environment in Sri Lanka. This study was conducted to determine critical constraints to the effective implementation of VET programme in Sri Lanka, particularly from a project management perspective. Its strengths and weaknesses are analysed to propose ways and means to improve its effectiveness and efficiency in the long term. The key findings of this case study categorized under 3 main development areas. The policy measures area includes programme administration, and financial mechanism of VET Trust Fund and has identified several planning and executing issues. Stakeholders’ goals and rewards areas how clear communication gaps and problems with stakeholders’ participation. In the benchmarking and standardization aspects of the VET programme during the monitoring and controlling phases were found several issues arising due to creation of competition, weakness of data and software management, lack of a roadside vehicle emission testing programme, VET centre inspection programme, non-implementation of liquidated damages or penalties for breach of test procedureand so on. For the improvement of the VET programme the recommendations addressing the three important areas organizational changers, better project management practices and the enhance role of the sponsor of management could be followed as the management practices. Keywords: Air Pollution, AirMAC, Vehicle Emission Testing Programme, Project Management, Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance