PANAJI
Making speed governors mandatory for all the public transport vehicles including rent-a-car, the State government on Thursday granted one month time, till April 7, to the vehicle operators to install “working” speed governors failing which the vehicles would be impounded and permits would be cancelled.
Speaking to media, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho also granted liberty to vehicle operators to purchase and install speed governors from outside the State, if they feel that the sellers here charge exorbitant prices.
“There is no question of relaxation or doing away with the rule of installing speed governors, as it is as per Central Motor Vehicle Act. All public transport vehicles will need to have speed governors in place by April 7. We are granting them one month time to install working speed governors,” Godinho said.
“After April 7, there will be strict enforcement. Vehicles found operating without working speed governors will be impounded and permits cancelled. There is already provision to cancel the permits if a vehicle is found in serious violation twice,” he added.
Quoting the concern raised by the vehicle operators, the Minister said there may not be enough speed governors in the market and hence sellers are exploiting the situation. “So vehicle operators are free to buy it from whoever they want even from outside the State,” he said.
“I don’t want innocent lives to be lost just because of someone’s rash and negligent driving,” Godinho said, appealing to people not to overspeed just because the roads have been widened.
He also said people are free to party late nights but the driver should not be under the influence of alcohol.
Speaking further, Godinho informed that the government has identified around 42 black spots for corrections, of which 12 would be taken up in the first phase and another 30 in the second. “There are some issues pertaining to land acquisition and also objections by locals, etc. We are working on it,” he said.
