Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (KM/RD)
Pics: Sphoorti Ullal

Mangalore, Jan 16: Dakshina Kannada Taxi Men's Association (DKTMA) staged an agitation in order to urge the authority to withdraw the order issued regarding compulsory installation of speed governors in all light tourist vehicles in the state on Wednesday January 16 in front of office of Deputy Commissioner here.

Agitators under the leadership of K Monappa Bhandary, advocate and president of DKTMA submitted a memorandum to the governor, through the DC of DK district.  Another copy of the same would be submitted to Regional Transport Authority. 

Terming the order 'unilateral and unscientific,' the president added that the order has made lives of poor drivers and owners of all light tourist vehicles in the state miserable and withdrawal of the ‘unfortunate order’ is only way for the mitigation. 

Scoffing at the order, the president added that the depreciation value of cars (Ambassador cars) is around Rs 10 to 15 thousand and the price of a speed governor is about Rs 15,000. Hence, the installation of the speed governor should be withdrawn with immediate effect. 

Questioning the mandatory installation, the president said that the rationale behind the compulsory installation of speed governor has not been made clear.  Moreover, it is also not clear why the order has been forcibly imposed on drivers and owners in the state, which the neighbouring states are not at all interested in.   

Agitators, raising slogans against the authority that played host to such alleged unscientific decision, submitted memorandum to DC, on the same occasion, who was plead to forward the same to the Governor.   

The association had also called for a day-long strike.  Hence all the light tourist vehicles in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi went off road and observed bundh.

Satish Bhat M, general secretary, Pramodh Kumar Ullal, working president and other office-bearers of the association and drivers and owners of light tourist vehicles were present during the agitation.