Leh, May 21: In a concerted effort to bolster road safety and improve public service delivery, Secretary of the Transport Department, Union Territory of Ladakh, Bhupesh Chaudhary Wednesday conducted a comprehensive inspection of the ongoing vehicle fitness certification drive at Choglamsar ground. He was accompanied by the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), Hidayatullah and other senior officials.
During the visit, the Secretary interacted with technical personnel, vehicle owners and members of the public present at the site. He issued clear directives that the vehicle fitness certification process must strictly adhere to the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules. He also highlighted the need to minimise inconvenience to citizens, particularly given the challenging climate and terrain of Ladakh.
Chaudhary emphasised that fitness testing is a crucial regulatory tool to ensure that only roadworthy vehicles are permitted on public roads, thereby safeguarding the lives of drivers, passengers, and other road users. He reaffirmed the department’s responsibility to uphold high safety standards through firm yet fair enforcement of the law.
To enhance efficiency and reduce crowding or delays, the Secretary instructed officials to implement an online appointment system for vehicle fitness testing at the earliest. He noted that digitisation would improve transparency, accountability, and the overall citizen experience.
Following the field inspection, Chaudhary visited the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Leh, where he reviewed the performance of public service counters and examined administrative and technical workflows. He urged staff to ensure prompt and courteous service delivery, stressing that the Transport Department should exemplify professionalism, transparency, and responsiveness. He also inspected the preparedness of the soon-to-be-inaugurated Transport Control Room, a centralised facility designed to enhance real-time monitoring, data management, and enforcement coordination across Ladakh. The Control Room is expected to be inaugurated shortly by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. Expressing satisfaction with the progress, Chaudhary encouraged officials to complete all remaining arrangements in good time for the inauguration. This inspection forms part of the department’s broader reform agenda aimed at leveraging technology, strengthening enforcement, and delivering citizen-centric services across the Union Territory.
