Chhindwara Makes RF Tags Mandatory for Mineral-Carrying Vehicles to Curb Illegal Transport
Under an order issued on October 7, vehicles transporting minerals in Chhindwara must carry radio frequency tags linked to electronic transit passes, with tampering leading to a ban and cancellation of e-Khanij registration.
Chhindwara district now requires vehicles that carry minerals to be fitted with radio frequency (RF) tags. An order issued on October 7, 2026, directs owners and contractors of all mineral-transport vehicles to adopt the new system, and the mining department plans to enforce it strictly over a month.
The step is meant to stop illegal mineral transport, especially by drivers who try to evade the electronic check gates. According to the report, drivers have been covering number plates with mud or cow dung, copying the plates of mining department or official vehicles, or removing plates altogether, which makes illegal vehicles hard to identify.
The RF tag stores a vehicle's details, so the information remains available even if the number plate is damaged. If a tag is tampered with, the vehicle will be barred from carrying minerals and its e-Khanij portal registration will be cancelled.
The tag is linked to the electronic transit pass generated when minerals are loaded. At an e-check gate the RF ID, the quantity and the type of mineral are scanned and sent to a control room in Bhopal. Any mismatch will lead to fines.
Chhindwara has two e-check gates, one at Junnardev and one in the city on the Nagpur road near the Imlikheda–Kulbahra river. The state mining department set up such gates across 40 districts about a year ago, and the district plans to propose more gates to the state government.
District Mineral Officer Amit Mishra said minerals cannot be transported without an RF tag, that tags will be fitted to registered vehicles and that rule-breaking vehicles will be caught at the gates. Transporters are advised to get their tags fitted within the deadline to avoid penalties.
