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Complete shutdown in Kargil as transporters demand UT level permits

Ladakh’s Kargil district is hogging the headlines as the All Transport Association Kargil is on strike. Kargil witnessed complete shutdown on Monday against the administration for denying UT-level permits to transporters of the district. While no traffic could be seen on roads, shops and business establishments were shut.

As per reports, all the stakeholders of District Kargil, including religious, social organizations, and members of civil society are in support of the Bandh call.

It is pertinent to mention that Kargil is already observing a shut down in support of the demand for one UT one Permit. Taxi Union Kargil is protesting in support of “one UT one Permit” and is making regular appeals to the Union Territory Administration to solve the matter and issue of permits for the taxis of Ladakh.

The Regional Transport Officer Kargil had called a meeting on Saturday at his office. President Taxi Union Kargil Mohammad Ibrahim and all other stakeholders had the meeting which was not successful, following which they asked the public and all stakeholders to support the Bandh call given by All Kargil Transport Union.

Meanwhile, with a view to deciding upon a permit system for the Contract Carriage of Ladakh, the State Transport Authority of Ladakh held a meeting. The meeting was held in the light of ongoing dispute between the transport unions of Kargil and Leh districts.

The Regional Transport Officer UT Ladakh, Regional Transport Authorities of Ladakh, and Commissioner/Secretary Transport Ladakh had held a series of meetings with the Taxi/ Tempo Unions and other transport associations of both the districts, however, the associations could not reach any mutually agreeable solution on the issue. 

The State Transport Authority of Ladakh decided on the areas/route(s) to be allowed for the Contract Carriage Permits for vehicles registered in both the districts of Ladakh.

Commissioner/Secretary Transport Ladakh Saugat Biswas who is also the Chairperson, State Transport Authority, Ladakh, while briefing the media, clarified that under the Motor Vehicle Act, the Transport Authority decides the routes or areas for which Contract Carriage Permits are issued to an applicant.

He informed that due care has been taken to maximise the benefits for every such applicant for a Contract Carriage Permit be it from Leh or Kargil district. The vehicles will be issued permits for plying in the territory of the district in which they are registered as well as the National Highways of Ladakh. In addition they will also ply to the tourist spots in the vicinity of NH-1D.

For plying in the inner routes of Ladakh, all contract carriage permit holders will be eligible for Temporary Permit which may be issued by the concerned ARTOs on the basis of a demand for vehicles. Biswas further informed that the MoU for reciprocal movement of vehicles between J&K and Ladakh will continue.

Transport Department will regularly review the implementation of the permit system and if required modifications will be made to further improve upon the system after a defined period.