JAMMU, Oct. 1
The Jammu and Kashmir Transport Department has ordered enforcement action against commercial vehicles that are more than 25 years old, directing transport authorities across the Union Territory to identify such vehicles and take action in accordance with existing rules.
The directive is aimed at removing ageing commercial vehicles that continue to operate despite crossing the prescribed age threshold, with authorities focusing on road safety, regulatory compliance and the fitness of vehicles used for public and commercial transport.
Transport Commissioner Vishesh Paul Mahajan has instructed Regional Transport Officers and Assistant Regional Transport Officers across Jammu and Kashmir to launch the necessary enforcement measures.
The order covers commercial vehicles that have completed more than 25 years from the date of their initial registration.
Authorities have been asked to identify such vehicles from official registration records and ensure that those falling within the specified category are dealt with under the applicable provisions of motor vehicle laws and regulations.
The move could affect older buses, minibuses, taxis, trucks and other transport vehicles that have remained in commercial operation for more than two-and-a-half decades.
The direction places responsibility on the respective RTOs and ARTOs to examine records within their jurisdictions and initiate appropriate action.
Commercial vehicles generally undergo more intensive use than private vehicles, accumulating greater mileage and experiencing heavier wear on engines, braking systems, suspension, steering and other safety-related components.
The department’s intervention therefore places the operational age and roadworthiness of Jammu and Kashmir’s older commercial fleet under greater scrutiny.
The order is also significant for operators who have continued using older vehicles after periodically obtaining the required fitness and other regulatory clearances.
Vehicle fitness remains an important element of commercial transport regulation because passenger and goods vehicles are required to satisfy prescribed safety standards to remain legally operational.
The latest directive, however, specifically identifies commercial vehicles more than 25 years old for enforcement action.
Transport officials have been asked to ensure implementation across the Union Territory rather than confining the exercise to major cities or particular transport routes.
That means the drive could extend to older commercial vehicles operating in both urban and rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
The measure is particularly relevant to public transport networks where older buses, minibuses and taxis can remain in service for extended periods.
For vehicle owners and transport operators, the directive makes the original registration date an important factor in determining whether a vehicle falls within the enforcement exercise.
The department’s action is expected to require coordination between transport offices and enforcement personnel as records are checked and vehicles identified.
The report does not provide a figure for the total number of commercial vehicles in Jammu and Kashmir that are currently more than 25 years old.
It also does not specify how many vehicles are expected to be immediately affected or provide a district-wise breakdown of the ageing commercial fleet.
The practical scale of the exercise will therefore become clearer as RTOs and ARTOs complete identification of vehicles within their jurisdictions.
The directive comes amid a broader national effort to modernise India’s vehicle fleet and remove ageing and unfit vehicles from the roads.
For Jammu and Kashmir, where commercial vehicles remain an important part of passenger and goods movement across mountainous and often demanding terrain, the mechanical condition of older vehicles carries particular safety implications.
The department’s order now shifts the focus to enforcement.
Owners of commercial vehicles that have crossed the 25-year threshold could face action once their vehicles are identified by the respective transport authorities, subject to the applicable legal and regulatory provisions.
The Transport Department has directed its field offices to ensure compliance, making the age of commercial vehicles an immediate enforcement priority across Jammu and Kashmir.
