Leh: In a bid to enhance road safety standards and improve citizen service delivery, the Secretary, Transport Department, Union Territory of Ladakh, Bhupesh Chaudhary, IAS, conducted a detailed inspection of the vehicle fitness certificate renewal process being carried out at the Choglamsar ground Wednesday.
He was accompanied by the Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), Shri Hidayatullah, and other departmental officials.
During the inspection, the Secretary interacted with technical staff, vehicle owners, and citizens present at the site.
He issued firm directions that the process of fitness certification must be carried out strictly in accordance with the provisions laid down under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
At the same time, he underscored the importance of minimizing inconvenience to the general public, especially in harsh climatic and topographic conditions such as those prevalent in Ladakh.
Chaudhary emphasized that fitness testing is a vital regulatory mechanism to ensure that only roadworthy vehicles ply on public roads.
This directly contributes to the safety of not just the vehicle owner, but also passengers and other road users.
He highlighted the responsibility of the department in upholding high safety standards through strict but fair enforcement of the rules.
To streamline the process further and reduce crowding or unnecessary delays, the Secretary directed the concerned officials to operationalize an online appointment system for vehicle fitness testing at the earliest.
He noted that the digitization of such services will not only improve efficiency but also bring greater transparency and accountability into the system.
Following the field visit, the Secretary also inspected the Regional Transport Office (RTO) premises in Leh.
He reviewed the functioning of various public service counters and took stock of the administrative and technical workflows.
He directed the staff to ensure prompt and efficient service delivery to citizens, while maintaining a courteous and helpful approach.
He emphasized that the Transport Department is a key public interface agency, and its functioning should reflect professionalism, responsiveness, and transparency.
In addition, Chaudhary inspected the readiness of the Transport Control Room, which is proposed to be inaugurated shortly by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.
The Control Room is envisaged as a central facility to enhance real-time monitoring of transport operations, data management, and enforcement coordination across the Union Territory.
The Secretary expressed satisfaction over the progress of work and urged officials to complete all preparatory arrangements well in time for the formal inauguration.
The inspection visit is part of the department’s broader reform agenda aimed at improving service delivery, leveraging technology, and ensuring robust enforcement of safety regulations across the UT of Ladakh.
