The Lieutenant Governor of the Union Territory of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, inaugurated an Automated Driving Test Centre (ADTC) and Automated Testing Station (ATS) at Phyang on March 5. The facilities mark a significant step towards improving road safety, transparency, and efficiency in vehicle and driver testing in the Union Territory.

Addressing the gathering, the Lt Governor emphasised the importance of vehicle fitness and responsible driving in ensuring road safety and environmental protection. He remarked that just as human beings require regular health check-ups to remain fit, vehicles also require periodic fitness checks to ensure they are safe to operate and do not contribute to environmental pollution.

The Automated Driving Test Centre has been established at an estimated cost of Rs 2.10 crore under the Special Development Package (SDP) and is expected to modernise the process of assessing driving skills and vehicle fitness in Ladakh.

Among those present on the occasion were Chief Secretary Ashish Kundra, Director General of Police Mukesh Singh, Administrative Secretaries Rahul Singh and Baseer-ul-Haq, Deputy Commissioner Leh Romil Singh Donk, Regional Transport Officer Ladakh Sonam Nurboo, and other senior officials from the Transport Department and RTO Ladakh.

The Lt Governor noted that with the rapid advancement of automotive technology and the increasing complexity of vehicles, traditional manual testing methods are becoming inefficient and time-consuming. He said manual processes are often prone to human error, whereas Automated Testing Stations leverage modern technology to conduct accurate and efficient vehicle inspections.

Speaking about the Automated Driving Test Centre, he said such facilities play an important role in enhancing road safety by using sensor-based technology, cameras, and advanced monitoring systems to evaluate driving skills without human intervention. The automated process ensures faster testing and quicker results, reducing waiting time for applicants.

He said the inauguration of these facilities marks an important milestone in Ladakh’s efforts to strengthen road safety, improve transparency in the issuance of driving licences and vehicle fitness certification, and promote environmentally responsible transportation systems.

The Lt Governor added that the UT Administration of Ladakh is committed to making the process of applying for motor vehicle fitness certification and driving tests more transparent, online, and hassle-free for the public. He also informed that similar infrastructure will soon be developed in Kargil district to extend the benefits of automated testing to people across Ladakh.

During the event, a representative of WAPCOS Limited, the implementing agency for the Automated Testing Station, informed that the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program (V-VMP) launched by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways aims to phase out unfit and polluting vehicles in an environmentally responsible manner.

He further informed that the ministry has mandated that from October 1, all commercial vehicles—including heavy, medium, and light transport vehicles—must undergo fitness testing at registered Automated Testing Stations. The requirement aims to eliminate human intervention and ensure factual reports for vehicle fitness, with penalties for non-compliance.

The need to increase the frequency of driving tests, conduct fitness tests for heavy vehicles, and provide basic public facilities such as drinking water and toilets at the venue was also discussed during the event.