April 1 deadline for speed governors opposed

Members of the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association, Bangalore Taxi and Tourist Operators Association and other transport organisations went on a snap protest at the Transport Commissioner’s office here on Thursday.

They demanded that they be allowed to instal speed governors after April 1, 2016.
The protest was in response to a Central government order that all lorries should be fitted with speed governors by April 1, 2016.

Federation president G R Shanmugappa, who was part of the protest, said lorry associations across South India were ready to fix speed governors after April 1, 2016.
He said: “When the all-India organisation is ready to fix speed governors, why should we remain isolated? We will do it the moment the all-India representatives do it. Let the authorities give us time.”

The association said 36 companies had been identified for providing speed governors, but the Central government had listed two. While one company was ready to offer the speed governors at Rs 12,500 apiece, the other company was offering the same at Rs 2,500. Members  wondered why the Central government was going with the speed governor that costs Rs12,500, while lorries could fit governors that cost less. “We are not aware why this insistence, unless the Centre is doing this favouritism for some benefit,” the lorry association members said.

The Federation said the lorry drivers and associations would be at a disadvantage if they fixed speed governors before April 1.

“We can’t get warranty. The brake is made by someone, the clutch by someone else, the accelerator by some others and the speed governors by an entirely different company. If all these are separately manufactured, we won’t get a warranty. If the governors come in-built, we are safe. All new vehicles after April 1 are getting inbuilt speed governors which puts them at an advantage vis-a-vis old vehicles. We are also insisting on time because we can have inbuilt speed governors manufactured at the time of production of the vehicles,” the Federation said.