Tamil Nadu Mineral Trucks Need AIS 140 GPS for Transit Passes

Chennai, November 1: Mineral transport trucks in Tamil Nadu are now required to carry GPS devices. Without an AIS 140-standard device, vehicles will not be granted transport permits or transit passes.

The state government implemented the rule from Sunday, as the final extended deadline ended on October 31. The announcement came from the Department of Geology and Mining on Saturday.

The department has made it mandatory for every vehicle involved in mineral movement to install the designated tracking device and connect it to the official online portal across Tamil Nadu.

Violations will attract enforcement. Mineral vehicles operating without a GPS device and a valid permit will be inspected and seized, and criminal cases will be opened against their owners.

The regulation forms part of the government's drive to prevent illegal mining and unauthorised mineral movement. The department wants to tighten transport monitoring by linking mineral vehicles to its digital system and to stop movement that bypasses the permit process.

As per the instructions, operators must fit AIS 140-compliant GPS devices and link them to the Mineral Management System, MIMAS. The department stresses that installation alone is insufficient, as portal connection is equally necessary.

The requirement has seen repeated deadline extensions. The initial installation deadline was March 31, 2026. The government had planned to halt transit passes for vehicles without equipment from September 1. The compliance deadline was subsequently extended to September 30 and then to October 31, so that owners could complete device installation and portal linking. That window has now closed, and permit restrictions have come into effect.

The November 1 rule directly ties transport paperwork to GPS compliance. Owners seeking permits or transit passes for mineral trucks should therefore make sure their vehicles satisfy both installation and online integration requirements.