Stop speeding bikers: Bombay HC to State

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has told the state government to pay attention to bikers who speed on the Eastern Express Highway, Marine Drive and Bandra Worli Sealink. The court said that there is a need to stop speeding bikers. The court also said that the government is planning speed governors for private vehicles but ignoring speeding bikers and safety of pedestrians.

“Bikers ride in the night at Marine Drive in south Mumbai, on the Eastern and Western Express highways and the Eastern Freeway and the sea link. Something needs to be done to stop that too,” the court said.

A division bench of Justice Shantanu Kemkar and Justice Girish Kulkarni was hearing a petition filed by the Mumbai Taximen’s Union challenging the government’s decision of ordering the installation of speed governors. The bench was informed that the state government had in August this year sent a letter to the union government raising the issue of non-availability of speed governors.

The court on Monday suggested the union government must not insist on installation of speed governors in black-and-yellow taxis and app-based car service providers if speed governors are not available with manufacturers.

“It is better that the union government relaxes the rule for some time. The government can make something compulsory only when it is available,” the court said.

The court directed Union government to consider the letter written by the state government highlighting the issue of non-availability of speed governors with the manufacturer. The court also said the petitioners could make a presentation before the union government.

The court noted that installation of speed governors was only one of the many solutions to ensure speed limits are being strictly followed by vehicles on the road.

The court has directed the union government to decide on the issue within three weeks.