PAMPORE, November 19: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the Automated Testing Station (ATS) at Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, marking a significant step toward strengthening the region’s transport infrastructure.
The event was attended by Satish Sharma, Minister for Transport, Retired Justice Hasnain Masoodi, MLA Pampore, Avny Lavasa Secretary Transport along with senior officials and representatives of the Jammu and Kashmir Road Transport Corporation (JKRTC), the organising body of the programme.
The establishment of the Automated Testing Station aims to enhance vehicle fitness assessment, improve road safety standards, and streamline transport-related services across the region. The dignitaries emphasised that the initiative will benefit both the public and the transport sector by ensuring more efficient and transparent vehicle testing mechanisms.
Speaking to Morning Kashmir, Minister Satish Sharma said that today is a very fortunate day as the first Automated Testing Station (ATS) in Kashmir has been inaugurated in Pampore by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. He informed that the company executing this project will complete the station within the next five to six months at an estimated cost of Rs 7–8 crore.
He stated that the biggest advantage of this facility is the reduction in human intervention. Earlier, several accidents occurred due to undetected faults in vehicles, but now the entire process will be computerized. Issues that were previously overlooked will be detected through advanced sensors, which will help reduce accidents and ultimately save lives.
Another major benefit of this initiative is employment generation, with around 40 to 50 people expected to get jobs. Following the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, similar Automated Testing Stations will be established in both regions of the Union Territory in line with the guidelines of the Government of India. This, he said, will prove highly beneficial in the coming days. He added that many more positive developments in the transport sector can be expected in the future.
This initiative, he noted, will enhance the credibility of the transport system, create employment opportunities, and boost revenue. Most importantly, every vehicle passing through this station will undergo proper and thorough testing.
He congratulated the Secretary Transport and said that MLA Pampore Hasnain Masoodi is fortunate to receive this important project.
