BANGALORE: Members of the Federation of Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association, (FOKSLOA) on November 3, had threatened to stop all vehicles under their federation if the State Government did not consider keeping on hold or withdrawing its notification making it mandatory for all new commercial vehicles to be fitted with speed governors from November 3. This notification was issued on the September 17 and is part of the government’s efforts to implement compulsory speed governance amongst all commercial vehicles entering the State. The FOKSLOA is asking for alternative measures like interceptors on major roads instead of speed governors as it feels that these would lead to major losses for operators in the State. “No one will load their freight on our vehicles if the speed governors are made compulsory, the speed is set at 65 kmph while major roads throughout the country have speed limits set at 80 kmph. The construction of smooth highways and expressways is defeated with this limit,” B V Narayanappa, Secretary of the federation said. FOKSLOA has decided to take the matter to court and has filed a petition before the High Court to get the notification withdrawn. They stated before the High Co FOKSLOA FOKSLOA urt that the decision is invalid since the Centre had decided to withdraw the power given to the states to impose the rule until difficulties faced by all concerned parties were discussed and sorted.The High Court has sent a notice to the State Government in this regard. The federation, however, is ready to follow the rule if it is made mandatory for all commercial vehicles in the country as it feels that the current notification which applies only to Karnataka puts them at a disadvantage. “We have no problems if the Supreme Court asks all states to implement this rule, we don’t want to be the only ones suffering, it is just the actions of a powerful lobby who is interested in making profits from the sale of governors,” added Narayanappa while stating that, in his opinion, the rule is being implemented in Karnataka only because of the connivance of corrupt officials.
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