NimmaKarnataka.com

Karnataka puts brakes on speed governors

Thursday, 23 October 2008

Karnataka Cabinet on Wednesday has decided to withdraw the controversial order directing all motor transport vehicle owners to get installed speed governors to their vehicles. The Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa took this decision following a strong protest from lorry owners associations in the State. The lorry owners association welcomed the Government decision. Briefing the Cabinet decision, Minister for Transport R. Ashok said the State which has sought to implement the speed governor rule aimed to curb the speed of transport vehicles, including luxury taxis and buses. Based on a direction of the Central Government, the State issued an order in 2005 which prompted lorry operators in particular to move the High Court of Karnataka and thereafter, the Supreme Court. The Minister said that the Cabinet, after holding extensive talks with legal and road transport experts, had decided to withdraw the order. Mr. Ashok, who has written three official letters to the Union government seeking a uniform speed governor rule in the country, said the Centre failed to respond resulting in the State Government having to defend the case on its own. Lorry and bus operators in the State have been up in arms against the Government even after suspending their services at least on three occasions in the last two years. The Transport Minister said it was difficult to prevent vehicles from other States plying on Karnataka roads with speed governors. Nearly 15,000 outstation transport vehicles pass through the State every day, he said.

 

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