STATE TIMES NEWS
LEH: In view of tourist season approaching soon, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC), LAHDC, Leh Dr Sonam Dawa chaired meeting on Tuesday which was attended by officers from the army, paramilitary, transporter and concerned district officers for smooth traffic regulation and management in and around Leh.
The meeting deliberated on various issues including traffic management and regulation, retiring of 15 years old vehicles from road, issuance of contract carriage permit for taxis, non-local taxis and self driven hired cars in light of court case on the matter.
Dr Dawa said that Leh is facing with a serious challenge of increasing traffic menace which ultimately disturbs the ecosystem of Ladakh so to minimise the impact on environment we must collectively find a way out.
He informed about multi layer parking facility in the heart of city to accommodate 250 vehicles at a time will come up soon and asked taxi union to vacate the space so that work on new parking space can be started at earliest.
He also talked about proposal to make underground parking facility at Polo Ground to meet the growing demands.
CEC also directed administration to ensure parking space while issuing building permits henceforth.
Deputy Commissioner Leh Prasanna Ramaswamy G informed the meeting that Rs 25 crore fund have been sanctioned for the parking space in the city and existing taxi unions, 207 unions, Bus union etc will be relocate to new location near Bomb guard.
He also issued strict order to remove to un-authorised check point (Naka) along the National Highway and asked SSP to keep a check on it.
Responding to All Ladakh transport Union Chairman Dorjay Angchok demanded issuance of new permits to unemployment youth to which DC Leh replied saying that Leh is already overflowing with too much of traffic therefore new permit will be issue only after verifying the applicant with strict guidelines.
DC also asked ARTO Khadim Hussain to formulate a new traffic rules and regulation in contexts Ladakh Geo-climatical condition which could be brought before the upcoming General Council for the approval of LAHDC.
Seeking cooperation from army and civilian for smooth traffic management of traffic, SSP sought one week time to find out new traffic routes to minimize traffic congestion on certain routes.
Assuring their full cooperation and army officers also sought special parking space for army at certain areas.
