Bangalore: The Karnataka Government has extended by two months the deadline for implementation of the rule to install speed governors in all public transport vehicles. The decision follows representations from various transporters' associations.

Minister for Transport N. Cheluvaraya Swamy told The Hindu here on Wednesday that the rule that was enforced from May 1 has been temporarily suspended for a period of two months. The fitment of speed governors will now be mandatory from July 1. Over the past week, registration of all new transport vehicles, including taxis had remained suspended.

While the Government through a notification directed the RTOs to implement the rule, speed governors were not available in the market, resulting in confusion. Added to this, even manufacturers of cars, lorries and buses did not fit speed governors to new vehicles. Thus, the Government was caught in a bind since the rule was beyond implementation for the present.

Non-availability

With the non-availability of speed governors even for government buses, the authorities had no other choice but to make a hasty retreat from enforcing the new rule. The government bus corporations themselves brought the matter to the notice of the Transport Department and explained the difficulties.

Mr. Cheluvaraya Swamy said he would hold discussions with Transport Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra and ascertain the manner in which they proposed to implement the rule which was based on the directions of the Supreme Court. The transporters' associations in Karnataka had also moved the Karnataka High Court which turned down the plea of the associations. Thereafter, the Government had given sufficient notice to the transporters to abide by the order.

Cooperation sought

The Minister said cooperation of the neighbouring States was necessary towards total enforcement of the speed governor rule.

With transport vehicles of other States plying on the highways in Karnataka, the authorities here could not bar their entry merely because the vehicles were not fitted with speed governors.

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