Secretary Transport Visits ADTC and ATS Phyang; Reviews Infrastructure and Operational Readiness

Leh, April 25, 2025: In a significant move towards modernising the transport infrastructure in the Union Territory of Ladakh, Secretary Transport, Sh. Bhupesh Chaudhary, IAS, undertook an inspection visit to the Automatic Driving Training Centre (ADTC) and the Automated Testing Station (ATS) located at Phyang.
The visit was aimed at reviewing the progress of civil and technical works and expediting the timelines for operationalising both state-of-the-art facilities.
Secretary Chaudhary was accompanied by key officials including the Regional Transport Officer (RTO), Ladakh; Assistant Regional Transport Officer (ARTO), Leh; Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD), Assistant Executive Engineer from the Power Development Department (PDD), and other departmental representatives.
During the visit to the ADTC, Secretary Transport conducted a comprehensive review of the ongoing construction and facility development. He issued firm instructions to the Executive Engineer, PWD, to complete all pending civil works within a month, emphasising that further delays would adversely impact the installation schedule of high-value electronic testing and simulation equipment. He further directed that the sanitation facilities be made winter-friendly, keeping in view the region’s unique climatic challenges, to ensure year-round usability.
Recognising the importance of timely procurement for seamless project commissioning, the Secretary instructed the RTO to initiate the process for acquiring furniture and other infrastructural components required for the centre. He noted that the ADTC, once completed, would significantly enhance the quality and objectivity of driving tests for applicants by integrating automated systems, thereby ensuring greater transparency, consistency, and public convenience.
The Secretary also visited the nearby Automated Testing Station (ATS), which is being developed for conducting automated vehicle fitness tests. The project is being implemented by WAPCOS, a Government of India enterprise. While inspecting the ATS site, the Secretary was apprised of the equipment and process flow being established to replace the existing manual testing system. He highlighted the importance of adopting modern testing protocols that rely on mechanical precision, calibrated instruments, and data-driven assessments.
He further elaborated that under the existing regulatory framework, fitness testing for transport (commercial) vehicles is mandatory every two years up to eight years of age, and annually thereafter. For non-transport (private) vehicles, fitness testing is carried out at the time of renewal of registration after 15 years, and subsequently every five years. The ATS is expected to streamline and enhance the accuracy of this process, which is critical for maintaining roadworthiness, environmental compliance, and road safety.
To remove infrastructural bottlenecks and enable early commissioning, the Secretary instructed the Assistant Executive Engineer, PDD, to expedite the provision of electricity supply to both ADTC and ATS sites. He stressed that all utilities must be in place well before the installation and calibration of the electronic systems begin.
The visit underlined the UT Administration’s resolve to embrace digital transformation and infrastructure modernisation in the transport sector. The establishment of these automated facilities is expected to bring a paradigm shift in public service delivery, contributing significantly to road safety, ease of access, and good governance.
The Secretary expressed satisfaction with the overall pace of work and urged all departments to work in close coordination to meet the committed timelines. He assured that the Administration would continue to provide all necessary support to make these citizen-centric projects a success.