It may be recalled that the All Goa Truck Owners Association (AGTOA), at a meeting in Vadakade Usgao on Thursday, decided to stop ore transportation until the government initiated talks with the truckers on the speed governance issue.
NGTTOA President Sudesh Desai stated that mining activities has resumed in the State after a long gap, and the truckers should welcome the government’s decision to impose a speed limit of 40 kmph, keeping in mind the interest and safety of the people from the mining belt, who were unnecessarily suffering due to the few thousand truck owners involved in ore transportation. He said that instead of stopping ore transportation, the truckers should take up the speed governance issue with the government.
Desai further said that the North and South Goa Truck Owners Associations had already submitted a memorandum to the chief minister highlighting the problems faced by the truck owners and seeking an increase in the speed limit from 40 kmph to 50-55 kmph. He added that the speed limit could even be set to 30-35 kmph in a crowded area and 50-55 in un-crowded areas.
Desai also said that, with the current speed limit, the truck drivers’ attention was constantly on the speedometer, thereby increasing the risk of accidents. Additionally, more diesel was being consumed, and the engine and gears could also develop problems due to the slow speed of the vehicle, he said.
