HYDERABAD: The state transport department’s proposal to install speed governors in all transport and goods vehicles in the state has hit a roadblock owing to official apathy.
As per Centre’s directive, no fitness certificates should have been issued after April 1 last year, if the vehicle is not fitted with speed governors. However, fitness certificates were issued without any regard for the directive. The speed governor is a device, which restricts the speed of a vehicle to a particular limit. Despite stiff resistance from Transport and Goods Vehicle Operators’ Association, the Centre directed all state governments to make installation of speed governors mandatory.
Accordingly, state transport department in 2015 issued a notification instructing owners of all transport vehicles to install speed governors and there were no further orders from TS government. Sources confirmed that a file proposing implementation of speed governors has been lying in the state government for more than a year, awaiting approval.
“That file will not be approved in the immediate future as private buses and taxi operators and transporters have approached several cabinet ministers and legislators including transport minister P Mahender Reddy seeking relaxation and they supported them,” an official said. Authorities said the automobile manufacturers were instructed to install speed governors in new vehicles. For existing vehicles, those manufactured before October 1, 2015, the department should install the devices in vehicles at all RTA offices.
“If the minister has his way and this speed governor idea goes through, who’s going to check if drivers haven’t dismantled governors?”questioned Shaik Salauddin, state president of Telangana Four Wheels Drivers Association. A private bus operator says “One cannot expect a multi-axle high-speed bus to travel at 80 kmph speed on highways.” Meanwhile, a senior transport official said they are still working on finalising the modalities for taking up the exercise and will soon call for tenders.
What is a speed governor?
It is a device which restricts the speed of a vehicle to a particular limit