KARGIL: The Assistant Regional Transport Office (ARTO), Kargil, on Monday intensified its campaign against noise pollution by launching a special enforcement drive targeting vehicles fitted with pressure horns and other unauthorized sound devices, with five vehicles challaned and the driving licences of violators seized.
The action comes amid growing concern over excessive vehicular noise in Kargil town, particularly from commercial vehicles using high-decibel pressure horns in violation of prescribed norms.
Addressing reporters, Assistant Regional Transport Officer Khadim Hussain said the department had initiated the drive to curb noise pollution and ensure compliance with the Motor Vehicles Act. He said the indiscriminate use of pressure horns posed a serious public nuisance and adversely affected both human health and animal life.
“Pressure horns are prohibited under traffic regulations and their use contributes substantially to noise pollution. The department has initiated strict enforcement measures against violators,” he said.
The officer said offenders were being booked under Sections 190 and 194F of the Motor Vehicles Act and warned that continued violations could invite stringent legal consequences. He urged motorists, particularly truck operators, to discontinue the use of pressure horns, especially in residential localities, near hospitals, educational institutions and other public places where excessive noise can cause disturbance.
Explaining the permissible standards, Khadim Hussain said vehicle horns approved under law generally produce sound levels ranging between 93 and 112 decibels when measured from a distance of 7.5 metres. Any alteration or installation of horns exceeding the prescribed limits, he said, would attract penal action.
He further cautioned that violations of the Motor Vehicles Act could result in penalties of up to ₹10,000 or imprisonment extending to three months, depending on the nature of the offence.
Meanwhile, Motor Vehicles Department Inspector Asgar Ali said five vehicles were penalised during the drive for noise pollution-related violations. In addition to issuing challans, the department also seized the driving licences of the offenders as part of the enforcement process.
Appealing to motorists to exercise restraint and follow traffic regulations, Asgar Ali said unnecessary honking not only causes inconvenience to the public but also undermines efforts to maintain a healthy urban environment.
He added that the department routinely checks vehicles for unauthorized pressure horns and other violations during re-registration procedures and regular inspections, and that action is taken whenever deviations from prescribed norms are detected.
Officials indicated that enforcement drives against noise pollution would continue across the district as part of broader efforts to improve road discipline and ensure compliance with environmental and traffic regulations.
