No checks on speed governors

The transport department seems to have turned a blind eye towards the violation of speed restriction norms meant for commercial vehicles, including school buses.

The transport department seems to have turned a blind eye towards the violation of speed restriction norms meant for commercial vehicles, including school buses.

HT Image

The installation of a speed-governing device is mandatory for commercial vehicles to check over speeding. But, an investigation by HT has found that many trucks and school cabs fitted with sub-standard speed regulators are allowed to ply on city roads, risking the lives of children, pedestrians and other commuters.

Transport officials issue fitness certificates to these vehicles without checking whether the device functional. In some cases, the equipment was found to be of sub-standard quality and bought from grey market.

As per norms, the speed safety device must be checked and approved by authorised agencies such as ARAI, Pune or ICAT, Manesar.

But many commercial vehicle owners buy unauthorised devices that are manufactured and sold illegally.

During a visit to a vehicle inspection ground in the city, the HT team found that vehicles were issued annual fitness certificates without their speed regulator devices being cross checked.

Every month, around 25,000 speed governors are installed in vehicles across Haryana. Of them 5,000 devices are used in Gurgaon alone.

If the cost of each device includes R500 as tax, the monthly revenue loss to the Haryana government due to illegal sale of sub-standard devices is to the tune of Rs 1.25 crore.

The excise and taxation department said it is unaware of any such trade of illegal device. “I am not aware of such activity. But if it's happening, I will take strict action against it,” said Anup Singh, deputy excise and taxation commissioner.