PANJIM/MARGAO: Even as Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho recently said that the government will ensure that rent-a-cab operators install speed governors in their vehicles, the All Goa Taxi Operators on Tuesday accused the State government of colluding with the agencies authorised to issue speed governor devices.
Speaking to reporters, Taxi Operators leader Bhaskar Narulkar said, “We are not satisfied with the speed governors already fitted by the agencies, as they are defective. When we approached the agencies about the outdated device, they demanded an additional Rs 5,000 to replace it.”
”The agency contracted for installing the speed governors does not have enough devices. They are not taking any responsibility. In such a situation, what are we supposed to do?” he asked.
Narulkar claimed that the agencies are charging Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 for the installation of speed governors in their taxis, when the same speed governors are available for Rs 1,000 in neighbouring Maharashtra.
He alleged that the compliance certificate issued to them stating that the vehicle is fitted with the speed governors is fraudulent and called on the government to order an inquiry into it.
Earlier, Narulkar, along with other taxi operators, met Director of Transport P Pravimal Abhishek, and apprised him of the issues faced by the taxi operators.
In view of rising road accidents involving rent-a-car vehicles driven by tourists, the State government recently made the installation of speed governors mandatory for them.
A circular issued by the Department of Transport had instructed officials to conduct thorough inspections to ensure the presence and functionality of speed governors, with a specific focus on ‘Rent-a-Cab’ transport vehicles, in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Act.
Taxi drivers from the Salcete coastal belt also voiced their concerns, highlighting the ongoing pressure to replace costly speed governors, each priced at over Rs 6,000.
According to the taxi drivers and owners, the installed speed governors are not only draining batteries but also adversely affecting their vehicles’ overall performance.
Additionally, they brought attention to the lack of public toilets along highways, impacting both drivers and passengers alike.
