\r\nTo curb the rapid increase of Taxi/ Maxi cab population in Leh district, a meeting of Regional Transport Authority was convened under the chairmanship of Avny Lavasa, DC also Chairperson RTA on December 15 at DC Office, Leh.\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nIn the meeting Sargun Shukla, SSP, Leh and Khadim Hussain, ARTO was present.\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nAfter a series of discussion, it was decided that no fresh permit and replacement of route permit of contract carriages will be issued from January 2018. Secondly, no new licenses will be issued for bike rentals.\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nThe standing committee has strictly ordered that no bike rental owners should possess more than 50 bikes and no rental bikes are allowed to park on road, failing to do so the license will be cancelled.  \r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nAlso, a stipulated time period has been given to all the bike rental owners to submit the list of the number of bikes to the ARTO office.\r\n

\r\n \r\n

\r\nAvny Lavasa, Deputy Commissioner said, “The permit for the commercial vehicle was banned in the whole J&K from the last two years but few manage to get it. This time we are very strict with the decision and the banned will be enforced anyhow.”\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\n“At present in Leh district there are around 4460 permit holders whereas it has to be stopped by 4000”, she added.\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nKhadim Hussain, ARTO said, “With the increasing number of commercial vehicles as per the ratio of population in the region is causing traffic chaos and many other issues. To curb such growing issues, the Regional Transport Authority has taken a major step by banning the permit issue for all the contract carriages and the replacement of old taxi with the new one has also been banned."\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nTalking about the rental bike, Khadim Hussain said, “There are 64 licenses applied under the regional authority which has to be recommended by the State Transport Authority, other than that no new licenses will be entertained”.\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nHe further informed that the license will be cancelled without any prior notice if anyone parks the bike in a haphazard manner and in front of the rental shop and owns more than 50 bikes.\r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\n“The decision taken will be implemented successfully because we are also taking a decision to register the vehicle only after the permission of RTA. The situation and the chaos faced by the district are more aware and experience by the RTA, thus, until and unless RTA won’t approve the STA will not further proceed the application”, he added. \r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nLadakh being a tourism sector many earn their bread from the taxi when asked about the setback to the youth who are genuinely opting to earn through taxi, Khadim Hussain said, “There are many other opportunities that need to be explored and we should strive towards sustainable development for a better future.”\r\n

\r\n \r\n

\r\nAt present in Leh, there are around16, 650 vehicles commercial vehicle registered in Leh RTO office.  Lack of strict traffic regulation, parking space has increased the issue. The banning of fresh permit for the commercial vehicle is said to be one among the solution to solve the growing traffic menace and encouraging sustainable development. \r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nTraffic of Leh is becoming a major concern which is not a recent abrupt issue. Do we have strict traffic rules and regulation? What about the vehicles parked in a haphazard way on either side of roads? Is there a need for public transport revival?  Do public have their sense of responsibility? \r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\nThe problem has been faced mainly because of the lack of parking space along with increasing number of vehicles. The administration is all set to construct a multi-tier parking building near Girl school, main market. Well, it hopes to relief a part of the menace but the growing issue needs more of concrete policy practically. \r\n

\r\n
\r\n

\r\n
\r\n