Leh ; Former Member of Parliament and ex-CEC of LAHDC Leh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal (JTN) has urged the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, to reserve all tender works up to ₹20 crore exclusively for contractors registered under the Union Territory.
JTN met the LG at the Secretariat in Leh and submitted an official representation on behalf of the Ladakh Contractors Association and other stakeholders, highlighting growing concerns over local contractors being edged out by outside bidders.
The representation points out that the Gazette Notification issued on 18 September 2025, which limits contractor registration certificates to UT Ladakh, has unintentionally put local firms at a disadvantage.
With unrestricted online bidding, major companies from outside the region continue to dominate tenders, leaving local contractors struggling to secure projects. JTN argued that this trend has begun to threaten livelihoods and weaken Ladakh’s already delicate economy. Given the region’s unique terrain, harsh climate and complex logistics, he emphasised that Ladakhi contractors are best equipped to deliver timely, cost-effective and high-quality infrastructure works.
Backed by the recently formed Ladakh Infra Developer Alliance (LIDA), a consortium of 14 associations representing civil and electrical contractors, transport unions and specialised plant operators, the demand for reserving tender works up to ₹20 crore has gained strong momentum.
LIDA maintains that despite their long-standing contribution to Ladakh’s development, local contractors have been sidelined in the era of online tendering that allows unrestricted participation from external firms. The alliance has already suggested that contractors holding the Ladakh Resident Certificate be given preference, especially for mid-sized projects valued between ₹10 and ₹20 crore.
JTN stated that safeguarding tender opportunities for local contractors is essential for sustaining Ladakh’s economic balance, preventing external monopolisation and supporting youth employment.
He noted that Ladakh’s entrepreneurs and skilled workforce possess the capability to deliver world-class infrastructure but continue to face systemic hurdles that limit fair competition. Reserving tenders up to ₹20 crore, he said, is not merely a demand but a necessary step towards local empowerment at a time when Ladakh is undergoing major expansion of road, bridge, power and public works projects.
The appeal also aligns with the ongoing push for protection of local rights in the region, following the introduction of 85 percent job reservation for Ladakh residents and the provision reserving one-third seats for women in the Hill Development Councils. JTN argued that similar safeguards in infrastructure contracting would help retain public expenditure within Ladakh and boost local entrepreneurship.
The representation submitted to the LG also seeks mandatory inclusion of the Ladakh Resident Certificate in tender eligibility criteria and calls for public works planning to prioritise local employment and capacity building under the “Local First” principle. The LG Secretariat is currently examining the proposals, and there is cautious optimism among contractors and stakeholders that the administration will take timely action to protect Ladakh’s economic interests and ensure fair opportunities for its youth.
