MARGAO
With the government setting a deadline for the installation of speed governors, tourist taxi operators have urged the Transport department to take the vehicle (taxi) manufacturers into confidence to ensure that Section 118 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 on speed governors is implemented.
The tourist taxi operators have urged the State government and the Transport department to consider seeking expert opinions on the matter before forcing the operators to install the speed governors.
In a representation submitted to the Transport department, the tourist taxi operators pointed out that Section 118 cited in para 5 clearly defines that the car/vehicle manufacturer is responsible for equipping/fitting the speed governor/speed-limiting device or speed-limiting function at the manufacturing stage or at the dealership stage. “Now that the manufacturing stage and the dealership stage is long over, the Transport department/Government of Goa needs to coordinate with the various manufacturers of the vehicles to arrange the installing of the speed governors,” the memorandum said.
Calling upon the government to seek expert opinion on the matter, the operators referred to the technical observations made by experts, warning of dangers if the speed governors are installed in their present unorganised crude form.
They also highlighted the confusion prevailing over the choice of the brand of the speed-liminting devices with the Regional Transport Office only insisting on "speed governors installed as per guidelines".
“... Small-time hawkers and middlemen are making a fast buck and running away. This means we are deprived of warranty and after-sales service," the operators said.
“Firstly, reliable dealers & brand/s have not been shortlisted by the Transport department. To add to the confusion, the Transport department is only interested in having the speed governors installed without giving the whole process a thought."
