Tamil Nadu has made AIS-140 standard GPS tracking devices mandatory for all goods vehicles transporting minerals from November 1, with transport permits being denied to vehicles that lack the device or have not integrated it with the Mining Department’s official website.
The Geological and Mining Department announced the enforcement measure in a statement reported by Dinamalar. The department said the requirement is intended to prevent illegal mineral transportation and ensure transparent monitoring of vehicles carrying mineral resources across the state.
Under the new enforcement arrangement, every goods vehicle used to transport minerals must be fitted with an AIS-140 compliant GPS monitoring device. The tracking system must also be integrated with the official website of the Mining Department. The deadline given to vehicle owners to complete the installation and integration process ended on October 31.
From November 1, vehicles that do not meet both conditions will not be issued mineral transport permits, according to the department’s statement. The permit system is therefore being linked directly to the presence of an approved tracking device and its connection to the department’s online monitoring platform.
The rule covers all types of goods vehicles involved in transporting minerals. The department did not specify in the statement which minerals or vehicle categories would be exempt, indicating that the requirement applies broadly to mineral-carrying goods vehicles covered by the state’s transport permit process.
Vehicles found carrying minerals without the required GPS equipment or without a transport permit will face intensified inspections, the department said. Such vehicles may be seized, while vehicle owners could face stringent criminal action under the law.
AIS-140 is an automotive industry standard associated with vehicle tracking and monitoring equipment. In this case, the department has specified that the device must not only be installed but also connected to its official website, creating a digital link between the vehicle, the transport permit process and departmental oversight.
The enforcement change places the monitoring of mineral movement within a more technology-based administrative framework. Its immediate operational effect is on vehicle owners and mineral transport operators, who must complete the equipment installation and website integration before obtaining permits. For enforcement agencies, the stated objective is to improve visibility over mineral movement and strengthen action against unauthorised transportation.
The department’s announcement did not provide details on the number of vehicles affected, the mineral volumes covered, the technical process for registration, or the specific penalties applicable in individual cases. It stated, however, that inspections would be intensified and that vehicles operating without the required GPS equipment and permit could be confiscated. The new enforcement regime is now in effect across Tamil Nadu.
