PULWAMA, APRIL 25, 2026: Following the explicit directives of the Transport Commissioner, J&K Vishesh Paul Mahajan (JKAS), the Enforcement Team of the Assistant Regional Transport Office (ARTO) Pulwama executed an extensive enforcement drive today across several key routes of the district, including the Awantipora–Tral, Tral–Nowdal, Rajpora–Pulwama, and Ring Roads, as well as Pulwama Main Town. During the operation, the team intercepted and thoroughly inspected 163 vehicles to ensure strict compliance with the Motor Vehicles Act and associated safety regulations. This rigorous exercise resulted in the issuance of 67 challans for various high-risk offenses, including 30 instances of riding without helmets, 19 seat belt violations, and several cases of overloading in passenger vehicles.
In a significant move to deter habitual offenders, the department initiated the suspension of 11 driving licenses and 4 registration certificates, while also cancelling one vehicle fitness certificate and seizing two vehicles on the spot. The drive also addressed technical and behavioral violations such as rash driving, wrong parking, and the absence of High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) and speed limiting devices. Financially, the drive led to the immediate realization of ₹37,400 in fines, with an additional ₹31,500 anticipated from the remaining challans. Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, the ARTO Enforcement Team emphasized that such drives will continue and advised all motorists to maintain valid documentation and strictly adhere to traffic laws to ensure a safer road environment for all.
The enforcement drives during the week focussed upon checking of school buses and private vans ferrying students to secure safety of students. More than 50 school buses were inspected and 10 of these buses were seized for non-compliance to extant norms and guidelines. The school management has been asked to keep their documents complete.
The day long drives were carried out by Rahil Anjum (MVI), Ashutosh Raina (MVI), Pankaj Bhat (MVTA), Irfan Ahmad (MVTA) and other officials under close supervision of ARTO Mohammad Shafait.
