PANJIM: The State government on Thursday issued a notification exempting tourist taxis from installing speed governors up to July 31, 2018 or till the time speed governors are easily available.
The notification, signed by the Transport Director, also said that only transport passenger vehicles having capacity of not exceeding eight passengers, having four wheels whose gross weight does not exceed 3500 kilogram be exempted.
“In exercise of the power conferred by clause (b) of sub section (3) of section 110 of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, the Government of Goa hereby exempts all the transport vehicles having four wheels whose gross weight does not exceed 3500 kilogram and which are used for carriage of passengers in addition to the driver seat (MI Category), from the requirement of fitment of speed governor under rule 118 of the Central MV Rules, 1989, up to 31/07/2018 or until such time the speed governors of two or three manufacturers are easily available at reasonable/competitive rates, whichever is earlier, for the fitment by the transport vehicle owner,” states the notification.
Transport Director Nikhil Desai said that issuing fitness certificates to tourist taxis will commence next month.
Taxi operators who had gone on a strike last week, withdrew the protest on Sunday after Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar assured that the government will seek more time from the Union Ministry under section 110 (III) (B) of Central Motor Vehicle Act to fit the gadgets, after it was brought to his notice that speed governors are not easily available in the State.
The Chief Minister also assured taxi operators that fitness certificates would be issued from February 24.
