Chennai: Trucks transporting minerals in Tamil Nadu will no longer receive transport permits or transit passes without AIS 140-compliant GPS devices, with the state government enforcing the requirement from Sunday, November 1, after the final extended deadline expired on October 31, IANS reported, citing the geology and mining department's announcement on Saturday.

Source: IANS via The Freedom Press

Under the directions, operators must install GPS devices that comply with the AIS 140 standard and connect them to the Mineral Management System, known as MIMAS, the department's online portal. Fitting a device alone does not fulfil the requirement — integration with the portal is also mandatory, NationPress reported.

Source: NationPress

The department has warned of strict enforcement. Vehicles found carrying minerals without GPS devices and valid permits will be inspected and seized, and criminal proceedings will be initiated against their owners, according to the department's release.

The deadline was extended several times before the hard cut-off. The original deadline for installing the devices was March 31, 2026; the government then planned to stop issuing transit passes to unequipped vehicles from September 1, but the compliance date was pushed first to September 30 and then to October 31, giving owners more time to install the devices and complete portal linking.

The requirement is part of the state government's effort to prevent illegal quarrying and the unauthorised movement of minerals. With permits now directly linked to GPS compliance, owners seeking transport documents for mineral trucks must meet both the installation and the online-integration conditions.