Goa govt firm on installing speed governors in tourist taxis

The Goa government will go ahead with installation of the speed governors in tourist taxis in the coastal state notwithstanding the opposition from vehicle owners, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said today.
While the state government has cited a recent directive of the Supreme Court for installation of the speed governors, taxi operators have opposed the move, saying they were not taken into confidence by the government before announcing this rule.
"The Goa government does not have any say in the matter, as it (mandating implementation of the speed governors) is a fallout of the Supreme Court directive," Parrikar said.
The speed governor is a device to measure and regulate the speed of a vehicle.

"Law has its own limitations and I cannot change it. Everyone will have to go for the speed governors," the chief minister said.
Taxi operators in South Goa and North Goa districts of the state had opposed installation of the device.

When asked about the opposition to the speed governors, Parrikar said he and Tourism minister Manohar Ajgaonkar will meet the stake-holders to discuss the issue.
The tourist taxi operators had demanded that installation of the speed governors should be made mandatory for all taxis, including private cars.
They had argued that only tourist taxis cannot be held responsible for road accidents in the coastal state.

Transport Director Nikhil Desai had said that the taxi drivers had to fall in line as the Supreme Court committee on road safety is monitoring the issue.