PANJIM: Though installation of speed governors in taxis, specially rent-a-cars, was made mandatory by the government after a series of accidents rocked the state in March this year, the Transport Department has adopted a lenient approach after acknowledging a acute scarcity of speed governors and reports of overcharging in the market.
“The date has been extended as speed governors are out of stock in the State. The decision was taken by higher authorities to extend the deadline by another month. Though an official order has not been issued but it has been conveyed orally after the taxi operators met the transport minister,” sources said.
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The decision has come as a breather for commercial vehicle owners who were under stress after the Transport Department issued a circular asking the taxi operators to install speed governors in their vehicles.
The taxi and rental car operators had vehemently opposed the Transport Department’s order claiming that there were instances of speed governors malfunctioning and there were shortages of the device in the market.
The February 27 order had mandated installation of speed governors for both tourist taxis and rent-a-cars by April 7 with routine checks.
Meanwhile, All Goa Tourist Taxi Association President Chetan Kamat said, “The issue of speed governors has not been resolved as they are not available. Earlier it was mandatory to install speed governors at an agency specified by the transport department. However, now the transport minister has said that we can purchase it from anywhere as it is not available at the agency specified by the government. We are facing a lot of problems as many of the vehicles are hybrid.”
“Installation of speed governors is not a solution as there is no guarantee that it will prevent accidents. Accidents are not caused due to taxis only. Private vehicles are also involved. If speed governors are to be installed then it should be done in all vehicles. India’s automobile companies manufacturers the same vehicles whether it is used by a taxi driver or any individual. The problem is that rent-a-car permissions were given without applying any mind and framing any policy. Now taxis are blamed. The point is that if a minister cannot take proper decisions then he should resign,” he said.
