A delegation from the All Kargil Transport Association met Chairman/Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC Kargil, Dr. Mohd Jaffer Akhoon, on May 13 to highlight critical challenges facing the transport sector in Kargil, UT Ladakh.

The delegation raised four major issues requiring urgent attention. They expressed concern over the current fitness fee system in UT Ladakh, where operators are charged full fees twice a year, unlike in UT Jammu & Kashmir, where only nominal renewal charges apply after six months. The delegation stressed that this system puts an undue financial burden on transporters, especially considering Ladakh’s short operating season.

They also demanded the revision or removal of the vehicle cap under the 2022 Inter-State Transport Agreement between UT Ladakh and UT J&K, which currently restricts the number of vehicles to 2,000—limiting transport growth in the region.

Additionally, the delegation urged the administration to issue state permits to vehicles registered in Ladakh post-2019 bifurcation, as currently only pre-bifurcation registered vehicles are eligible.

Lastly, the transporters pressed for the immediate formulation of a region-specific Ladakh Transport Policy, considering Ladakh’s unique geographical and operational challenges.

CEC Dr. Akhoon assured the delegation of his full support and informed them that the issues have been taken up with Transport Secretary Bhupesh Chaudhary. He further assured that matters concerning permits, green tax, and online pollution certification delays are being reviewed for timely resolution.

The delegation was led by Mohd Idress, President, All Transport Truck Union; Ghulam Nabi, Taxi Operators’ Representative; Mehdi Ali, Vice President, All Kargil Transport Association; and Khadim Hussain, President, Tata Mobile Operators Association.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with renewed hope for swift administrative action to address the transport community’s grievances.