Daijiworld Media Network- Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, Mar 6: Bus owners from Kinnigoli have complained that they have been cheated at the NITK toll collection gate when they are charged Rs 75 for every single trip for their buses.

Durga Prasad Hegde, president of Kinnigoli bus owners association, said in a press meet held in Kinnigoli, that every bus was charged Rs 5,700 per month when the toll collection started in December. When the bus owners complained about the higher charges to the toll gate management, they were told that, as the gate was opened recently they had to recover money invested and the bus owners would be given concessions after two months. But after the completion of two months, Hegde said, the toll gate management started imposing a fee of Rs 75 for every trip. “This amounts to cheating and daylight robbery” Hegde said.

“We give 50 % concession to students and 30 % concession to regular passengers but we still provide the best possible service. Toll charges are very big burden on us. We will send petitions to Member of Parliament, legislators and deputy commissioner. We want them to intervene and solve this matter. If they do not do it, we will stop all the buses plying between Mangaluru and Udupi and protest against injustice” Hegde warned.

Shashi Amin, Jagadish Shetty, P Satish Rao, Sudesh Maroli, Sandesh Pai, Bhaskar Poojary and Gulam Hussein were present.