Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on September 28 inaugurated Ladakh’s first three-tier Multi-Level Stacked Parking Facility at the District Motor Garage in Leh, disbursed subsidy cheques to beneficiaries who purchased electric cars under the Ladakh EV Policy, and flagged off an Electric Vehicle Demonstration Rally.

The three initiatives are aimed at optimising limited urban space, easing congestion and promoting cleaner mobility in the Union Territory.

With Leh witnessing growing urbanisation, increasing tourist footfall and rising mobility requirements, the Lieutenant Governor emphasised the need for infrastructure that makes efficient use of limited land while addressing congestion and reducing pollution and carbon emissions from transportation.

The three-tier Multi-Level Stacked Parking Facility, the first of its kind in UT Ladakh, has a capacity to accommodate 30 vehicles. The facility has been designed to make better use of scarce urban land, increase parking capacity and ease pressure on public spaces in Leh.

L-G Saxena said projects such as these demonstrate the importance of adopting smart infrastructure solutions in a region where land is limited and urban areas are experiencing increasing pressure.

The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the Ladakh Electric Vehicle and Allied Infrastructure Policy as an important step towards promoting clean mobility in the Union Territory. Under the policy, subsidies and incentives are provided to eligible beneficiaries purchasing electric vehicles to encourage the transition towards cleaner transportation.

On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor disbursed EV subsidy cheques to beneficiaries, including those who availed the Early Bird Incentive, which provides a subsidy of up to 20 per cent, subject to specified caps, including ₹5 lakh for cars. He congratulated the beneficiaries for becoming early participants in Ladakh’s transition towards electric mobility and expressed hope that their experiences would encourage more people to adopt electric vehicles.

The Lieutenant Governor also flagged off an Electric Vehicle Demonstration Rally to assess the suitability and performance of electric vehicles under Ladakh’s unique operating conditions. JSW MG Motor India, Hyundai Motor India, Kia India and Mahindra & Mahindra are participating in the initiative by bringing electric vehicles for demonstration.

Saxena emphasised that Ladakh’s development model must take into account its high altitude, difficult terrain, cold climate, fragile ecology and rich cultural heritage.

Emphasising the need to balance tourism growth with environmental sustainability, the Lieutenant Governor highlighted the importance of reducing air pollution and carbon emissions resulting from increased vehicular movement in Ladakh.

“Ladakh’s development cannot mean simply creating more infrastructure. We have to create better infrastructure and adopt cleaner technologies that are suited to our geography and environment. As tourism and mobility increase, our responsibility is to ensure that economic growth does not come at the cost of our fragile environment,” said L-G Saxena.