In a major step towards modernising transport infrastructure in the Union Territory of Ladakh, Secretary Transport, Bhupesh Chaudhary, IAS, conducted an inspection visit to the Automatic Driving Training Centre (ADTC) and the Automated Testing Station (ATS) at Phyang on April 25.

The visit focused on reviewing the progress of civil and technical works and expediting the timelines for operationalising both state-of-the-art facilities.
Secretary Chaudhary was accompanied by key officials, including the Regional Transport Officer (RTO) Ladakh, Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO) Leh, Executive Engineer from the Public Works Department (PWD), Assistant Executive Engineer from the Power Development Department (PDD), and other departmental representatives.

During his inspection of the ADTC, the Secretary conducted a thorough review of ongoing construction and facility development. He firmly instructed the Executive Engineer, PWD, to complete all pending civil works within a month, emphasising that further delays could impact the installation schedule of high-value electronic testing and simulation equipment. He also directed that sanitation facilities be made winter-friendly to ensure year-round usability, considering the region’s harsh climate.

To ensure seamless commissioning, the Secretary directed the RTO to initiate procurement of furniture and other necessary infrastructural components. He noted that the ADTC, once operational, would significantly enhance the quality and transparency of driving tests by integrating automated systems, leading to greater public convenience and consistency.

The Secretary also visited the nearby Automated Testing Station (ATS), being developed by WAPCOS, a Government of India enterprise, for conducting automated vehicle fitness tests. During the inspection, he reviewed the equipment and process flow being established to replace the existing manual testing system. Highlighting the importance of adopting modern protocols, he stressed the need for mechanical precision, calibrated instruments, and data-driven assessments.

He elaborated that under the current regulatory framework, fitness testing is mandatory for transport (commercial) vehicles every two years up to eight years of age, and annually thereafter. For non-transport (private) vehicles, fitness testing is required at the time of registration renewal after 15 years, and subsequently every five years. The ATS, once operational, is expected to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and environmental compliance of the vehicle fitness assessment process.

To remove infrastructural bottlenecks, the Secretary instructed the Assistant Executive Engineer, PDD, to expedite the provision of electricity supply to both the ADTC and ATS sites, ensuring that utilities are in place well before installation and calibration of electronic systems.

The visit underscored the UT Administration’s commitment to embracing digital transformation and infrastructure modernisation in the transport sector. The establishment of these automated facilities is expected to bring a paradigm shift in public service delivery, contributing significantly to road safety, ease of access, and good governance.

Expressing satisfaction with the overall pace of work, the Secretary urged all departments to work in close coordination to meet the committed timelines. He assured that the Administration would continue to provide all necessary support to ensure the successful commissioning of these citizen-centric projects.