Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (MS)

Udupi, Aug 19: It is decided to maintain status quo with regards to the collection of toll from locals on all the toll gates that are functioning on national highway 66. This decision arrived at a meeting that was held at the office of the deputy commissioner (DC) of the district.

In the meeting, which was held under the leadership of DC Priyanka Mary Francis, SP Laxman Nimbargi, sub-divisional officer of Kundapur, Boo Balan, leader of opposition in the legislative council, Kota Srinivas Poojary and MLAs Halady Srinivas Shetty and Raghupati Bhat were present.

The members of the Horata Samiti, which is opposing the collection of toll without the completion of road work on NH 66, the general public and people representatives, presented their opinions in the meeting. At the beginning of the meeting, no decision could be arrived at as the senior officials of Navyug Company and project director of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) were not present.

Later the DC, SP and people's representatives of the district conducted a closed-door meeting with the local officials of the Navyug Company. They also discussed the issue with the higher officials of Navyug Company over telephone.

Speaking after the meeting with Navyug officials, MLA of Kundapur, Halady Srinivas Shetty said, "A concrete plan was not given to the company at the beginning of the road construction. Now a circular is being enforced for the second time to complete 75% of the proposed work in order to collect the toll. Now the company officials are saying that they are under loss and also have to pay huge interest. So now we have told Navyug officials that we need to discuss these issues with the Horata Samiti and have asked them to maintain the status quo till September 30."

Members of Horata Samiti Pratap Shetty, Alwyn Andrade, Prashant Shetty, Lawyers Shyamsundar Nairi, Kaup Divakar Shetty, Shekhar Hejmady, Silldique Talapady and public were present.