Bengaluru: Karnataka Government has reportedly decided to withdraw the controversial order directing all motor transport vehicle owners to get Speed Governors fitted to their vehicles.

The Government had passed an order stating that vehicles with more than eight seats should install speed governors. Karnataka is the only State which has sought to implement the speed governor rule aimed at restricting the speed of transport vehicles, including luxury taxis and buses. Based on a direction of the Union Government, the State issued the order which prompted lorry operators in particular to move the High Court of Karnataka and thereafter, the Supreme Court.

Kerala is the only other State which has also passed an order for implementation of the speed governor rule, though it has refrained from enforcing it.

Sources told Star of Mysore that the Government, after holding extensive consultations with legal and road transport experts, had decided to withdraw the order. Sources said that despite implementing the order there has not been any reduction in the number of accidents.

The Government has decided to withdraw the order without violating the orders issued by the Centre and the Courts.

A meeting was held on Tuesday in Bengaluru in this regard between Principal Secretary, Transport Department, Transport Commissioner and other transport officers from the Centre.

Sources said that the decision has been taken to withdraw the order and communicate the same to the Centre. If need be, the State Government will take the Legislation route to withdraw the order, sources added. The latest decision will be formally placed before the State Cabinet for its ratification, and the Government order will be withdrawn.  

As per the Government notification issued under rule 118 (2) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, all specified transport vehicles like stage carriages, contract carriages, maxi cabs, private vehicles, Omni buses, tourist vehicles and goods vehicles (except 3-wheelers) have to be equipped with speed governors having a maximum speed of 80km per hour.