Taxi Operators hail LG’s decision, assure VLTD installation within a month
PAGIR President calls on LG, highlights issues of PwDs in Ladakh Leh, Oct 8: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, today interacted with a delegation of Ladakh Taxi Operator Co-operative Ltd and reviewed their concerns regarding the installation of Vehicle Location Tracking Devices (VLTD) as mandated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
The meeting was attended by Mohammad Usman Khan, Additional Secretary, Transport Department; Hidayatullah Mir, ARTO Leh; Thinlay Namgial, President, Ladakh Taxi Operator Co-operative Ltd along with vice-presidents- Stanzin Loldan and Ajaz Ahmad.
The Taxi Operators informed the Lt Governor that, due to the recent economic slowdown and business challenges, they were facing difficulties in complying with the immediate installation requirement of VLTD. They requested a one-month relaxation to enable completion of the process, allowing their commercial vehicles to pass the fitness test.
The Additional Secretary, Mohammad Usman Khan, apprised the Lt Governor that MoRTH has mandated the installation of VLTDs in all commercial vehicles. He mentioned that over the past two and a half months, the taxi operators had not strictly adhered to MoRTH’s directives.
Considering the current situation and the challenges faced by the operators, the Lt Governor granted a one-month relaxation for the installation of VLTDs. He made it clear that no additional extension would be granted beyond this period.
The Lt Governor emphasised that the timeline must be strictly adhered to, as the installation of VLTDs is a mandatory safety and regulatory requirement under MoRTH directives. He urged all transport operators to ensure full compliance within the stipulated period to avoid any disruption in vehicle operations or certification. He highlighted the importance of VLTDs in enhancing passenger safety, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring regulatory compliance across Ladakh’s transport network.
The Taxi Operators expressed their gratitude to the Lt Governor for his considerate decision and assured that all commercial vehicles would be equipped with VLTDs within the next month.
Meanwhile, the President of the People’s Action Group for Inclusion and Rights (PAGIR), a Ladakh-based organisation focused on the empowerment of persons with disabilities, called on the Lt Governor to highlight issues faced by divyangjan in Ladakh.
The Lt Governor reiterated that the UT Administration is committed to the welfare of divyangjan through various initiatives aimed at ensuring inclusivity and financial security. He noted measures led by the Social and Tribal Welfare Department, including implementation of the Unique Disability ID (UDID) project, with 3,591 UDID cards issued to facilitate access to government benefits; establishment of District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs) to provide rehabilitation services and efforts to make public buildings accessible.
He further emphasised that the Government of India and the UT Administration remain committed to enhancing livelihood opportunities for divyangjan through skill development and empowerment initiatives.
