HYDERABAD: Installation of speed governors in maxi cabs, light heavy vehicles and school buses from January 1 is leading to a tug-of-war between vehicle owners and Transport department.

While the department officials say that fitness certificates of these vehicles would not be renewed if the vehicle owners failed to install speed governors, owners argue that it was an `unnecessary' financial burden which the department wants to impose on them.

Cab drivers, mostly teenagers, hired by the BPO and software companies have made driving an extremely risky proposition, particularly in the nights and wee hours, posing grave danger to lives of other road users. Even in the narrow lanes or arterial roads, they vroom within seconds after dropping the staff.

Speedometer

With an eye on the stiff pick-up and drop schedules, their eyes are on the speedometer and foot on the accelerator every minute as they jump signals and break all possible traffic rules. Many hit-and-run cases have been reported due to their reckless driving, say officials explaining that over 25,000 maxi cabs, school buses and other light heavy vehicles are plying on the roads everyday.

If speed governor equipment is fixed to a vehicle, drivers cannot go beyond the speed of 65 kmph. "We made it mandatory with an aim to prevent accidents and not to create any problem for cab owners," Joint Transport Commissioner B. Venkateswarlu said.

He said fitness certificate of the vehicle would not be renewed if anyone failed to fix the equipment. If necessary, vehicles would also be seized, he said.

A cab owner Raju said a majority of the vehicle owners were already facing several hardships. Despite completing all formalities, including payment of life tax, the department was still imposing additional burden on the owners by making it mandatory to fix speed governors costing Rs.15,000.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail