Kohima: Nagaland’s state vehicle fleet remains dominated by heavy trucks and goods carriers. Data from the VAHAN Dashboard shows 5,08,487 total registrations as of August 17. Of the 2,50,800 transport vehicles, 2,08,299 are goods carriers. Heavy Goods and Motor Vehicles total 1,99,346. These figures suggest a massive, state-wide freight operation.
The reality is different. The Transport Department admits it holds no data on where these vehicles actually work. Officials noted that registration numbers remain active until an owner reports them off-road or they migrate to another state. A vehicle registered in Nagaland can operate anywhere in India.
Lower tax rates attract owners. The state relies on roads for almost all logistics across its hilly terrain. These factors drive the registration profile. National Permits also play a major role. Records show 82.5 percent of permits are National Permits issued under code NL-99. The department confirmed, “A vehicle that operates on the strength of a National Permit need not necessarily ply in a single State.”
Revenue tells a different story. The department collected 274.75 crore in 2025-26. This beats the annual target of 240 crore. The 2026 registration data already includes 7,114 heavy goods vehicles. Logistics and freight demand continue to shape these trends.
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