Thiruvananthapuram: Row over the payment of entry tax for the newly procured laser-aided speed radars has prevented the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) from launching "Speed Tracers" to check speeding and rash and negligent driving.

The six speed radars, costing Rs.12 lakh, have been lying at the checkpost in Amaravila on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border for over a month, thanks to the row over entry tax, a top MVD official told The Hindu .

The MVD does not have the funds to pay up the tax to the Sales Tax Department, sources said. The speed radars were intended to be installed in the off white and cherry red coloured "Speed Tracers" beaming red, white and blue lights. The department had also purchased six new Indigo cars, costing Rs.6 lakh each.

The tracers are being launched using funds for the Modernisation in Government Programme. The MVD officials are using the cars. The Speed Tracers are designed on the lines of the interceptor vehicles used in the metros to check speeding among all classes of motorists and to apprehend those who violate Motor Vehicle rules.

The introduction of laser-aided radars will help MVD officials assess the speed of any vehicle, either coming in a convoy or through different lanes. A major advantage is that laser-based radars can be mounted on the vehicle and can be operated from inside the vehicle.

The MVD has already taken up the matter with the Government and has sought either exemption of entry tax or release of adequate funds to remit the tax for the speed radars, according to the official. The request is pending with the Department of Taxes, the official added.

At present, the MVD has five speed tracers functioning under the Deputy Transport Commissioners in the four zones in the State.

The Speed Tracers launched earlier had speed radars working on radio frequency and were manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL), Bangalore.

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