Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, interacted with a delegation from the Ladakh Taxi Operator Co-operative Ltd on October 8, addressing their concerns regarding the mandatory installation of Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTDs) as directed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

The meeting was attended by Mohammad Usman Khan, Additional Secretary, Transport Department; Hidayatullah Mir, ARTO Leh; and Thinlay Namgial, President, Ladakh Taxi Operator Co-operative Ltd, along with Vice Presidents Stanzin Toldan and Ajaz Ahmad.

During the meeting, taxi operators highlighted that the recent economic slowdown and reduced tourist inflow had caused financial strain, making it difficult for them to immediately install the VLTDs. They requested a one-month relaxation period to complete the process so that their vehicles could meet fitness certification requirements.

The Additional Secretary, Mohammad Usman Khan, informed the Lt. Governor that MoRTH had made VLTD installation mandatory for all commercial vehicles to ensure road safety and real-time tracking. However, he noted that taxi operators in Ladakh had not fully complied with these directives in the past two and a half months.

After reviewing the matter, the Lt. Governor granted a one-month extension for the installation of VLTDs, while making it clear that no further relaxation would be permitted beyond the stipulated period.

He emphasized that the installation of VLTDs is a critical safety and regulatory measure, aimed at improving passenger safety, enhancing operational efficiency, and ensuring better monitoring of transport services in Ladakh. The LG urged all transport operators to complete the installation process within the given timeline to avoid disruption in vehicle operations or certification.

Expressing gratitude, the Taxi Operators’ delegation welcomed the Lt. Governor’s decision and assured that all commercial vehicles in Ladakh would be equipped with VLTDs within a month.