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Talks with bus operators today

Special Correspondent

Minister says Government is in a dilemma because it will be of no use for the State alone to go in for speed governors

Mathew T. Thomas says the Government is in a dilemma over the issue of installing speed governors.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Transport Minister Mathew T. Thomas has said that the Government will hold talks with representatives of private bus operators, who have threatened to go on strike from October 31, on Friday.

Replying to a submission by Ramachandran Kadannappally (Congress-S) and K.K. Divakaran (CPI-M) in the Assembly on Thursday, the Minister pointed out that the State Government could do only little about the bus operators' demand as the directive for installation of speed governors by all buses was issued by the Supreme Court. The issue has been pending for the last six years and the last Government had bought time by filing appeals and seeking more time for implementation of the court order.

The Minister said the basic order for installation of speed governors was issued by the Kerala High Court. Although a review petition was filed before the court, it was rejected with the directive that speed governors should be installed before February 29, 2004. The bus owners then went to the Supreme Court with a special leave petition, but it too was rejected and the court ordered installation of speed governors before September 30, 2005.

When the State Government failed to issue the necessary notification, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the matter and summoned the State Transport Secretary and his predecessors.

The State Government was told to take necessary steps in the matter before November 20 next.

The Kerala Government is in a dilemma in the matter because it would be of no use for the State alone to go in for speed governors.

The measure would become effective only if the Central Motor Vehicle Rules are amended.

He and the Chief Minister had apprised the Union Surface Transport Minister about the matter, but there has been no response from the Centre so far.

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