Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)
Mangaluru, Aug 14: A committee, consisting of various organizations of the undivided district, has been formed to condemn the inordinate delay in four-lane work of national highway 66 from Talapady to Kundapur. The committee has decided to hold a huge protest and gherao all the four tollgates by the end of August.
"The committee will send an appeal on August 16 to the government, through the deputy commissioner, urging to stop the collection of toll charges as the work of the highway is still not completed. If the government does not respond to this appeal, then the tollgates will be gheraoed by the end of August," said, Devi Prasad Shetty, president of national highway 66 protest committee, at a press conference.
"The work of the national highway, which started in 2010, is moving at a snail's pace. The public is put to inconvenience because of this. Hundreds of people have lost their lives due to accidents on this stretch. Bypass roads are not constructed. Service roads are not provided in junctions. Work of building flyovers is stopped halfway. However, the Navayuga Company who has bagged the contract of these works is still collecting the toll charges. If the work is going to get delayed further, the toll collection should be stopped with immediate effect," Devi Prasad urged.
National Highway Authority and Navayuga Company
Continuing his barrage, Devi Prasad Shetty said, “Though many works related to the development of the national highway are pending, Navayuga Company has taken the permission to collect the toll two years ago by falsely claiming that 90% of the work is completed. The National Highway Authority has sanctioned this false claim of Navayuga also. Both the Navayuga Company and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) are involved in this act and are looting the public,"
Unscientific work due to twisting of original work plan
"The NHAI has twisted the original plan and is doing the work as per its whims and fancies. Due to the unscientific work done by NHAI, traffic jam has become a daily affair in places like Padubidri, Kundapur, Baikampady, Pumpwell and Nanthoor on NH 66. Potholes are formed near the toll gate itself and the sight is unbearable. The bus shelters have become rusted within a year of their construction. The light emitted by the street lamps is not even in the range of that provided by kerosene lamps due to the inferior quality of LED bulbs used in them. Even after so many irregularities, they are collecting toll," said Devi Prasad expressing his outrage.
MP Nalin does not keep his word
Accusing Member of Parliament (MP) Nalin Kumar Kateel, Devi Prasad Shetty said, "Though Nalin Kumar Kateel and the deputy commissioner said a month ago that the Suratkal tollgate will be merged with Hejamady toll gate, the toll collection at Suratkal was not stopped. Instead, they have given the contract of collecting the toll to a new contractor. If the people's representatives and deputy commissioner do not keep their word, then who should the general public approach to address their grievances?"
Honorary president of the committee Ashraf, convener Pratap Shetty, eminent personalities like Shekar Hejamady, Siddique Talapady, Harshad Vorkady and others were present.