Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Apr 16: A division bench of the state high court which heard a writ petition filed against collection of toll charges in gates located between the town and Talapady in Dakshina Kannada district in spite of non-completion of several sections of the highway widening work, has asked the petitioner to approach the deputy commissioners (DC) of the districts concerned and await further action.

The writ petition was filed by an advocate based in the town, Shyamasundar Nairy. He had named highway contracting firm, Navayuga Infrastructure, and others as defendants in the writ petition. The division bench comprising Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar passed the said order. Therefore, the concerned have to wait what action the deputy commissioners of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada will take in the matter. Both the DCs are expected to look into the matter, hear both the sides, and take a decision soon.

The section of national highway 66 between the town and Suratkal and again between Suratkal and Talapady has many incomplete stretches and several culverts,service roads, bridges etc have not been completed, the petitioner had pointed out. He therefore had contended that it was illegal for Navayuga to collect toll charges at its tollgates at Suratkal and Gundmi. Moreover, as per the central government order, tollgates cannot be located within the municipal limits, and that setting up of the tollgate at Gundmi which falls within Saligrama town panchayat limits, is illegal.He further argued that as against the minimum distance prescribed by the central government between two tollgates as 65 km the distance between tollgates here stands at 45 km. Therefore, he had demanded for removal of the tollgate.

High court advocate, Arun Shyam, had appeared on behalf of the petitioners in the high court.