Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Sep 27: "Suratkal toll gate is built against the law. Money is being looted from the public in this tollgate. Tollgate should not be constructed under the limits of city corporation. If this situation was present somewhere else, people themselves would have uprooted the toll gate," said former MLA Vijayakumar Shetty.

Shetty was speaking after partaking in the march from Kulur to Suratkal in the city organized by the anti-tollgate action committee calling for the closure of Suratkal NITK Tollgate and repair of national highway at Nanthoor in the city.

Vijayakumar urged the concerned authorities not to test the patience of the public of Dakshina Kannada district and asked them to close the tollgate at Suratkal and also repair the highway as soon as possible.

Daylight robbery

Convener of the committee Munir Katipalla said, "Collection of toll at Suratkal is a daylight robbery. Though it is decided to close the tollgate at the state level meeting, still the toll collection is being done. If suitable action is not taken within 10 days we will resort to an indefinite strike."

83-year-old lady inspires the protesters

Ammemamma, who is 83-years-old, took part in the march by walking with the protesters from Kulur to Suratkal. Many elderly people also took part in the march and inspired the genuine demand of the protesters. Some youth ordered the tollgate staff not to collect the toll. Throughout the route of the march water, buttermilk and snacks were provided by the local civilians and entrepreneurs. Suratkal and Panambur police controlled the situation and prevented any untoward incident during the protest march.

Many organizations like Suratkal - Kinnigoli zone Bus Owners' Association, Kinnigoli zone Lorry Owners' Association, Three-wheeler Tempo Drivers' and Owners' Association, Goods Tempo Drivers' Association Suratkal, Suratkal Auto drivers' Association, Online Taxi Owners' Association, Nagarika Samiti Kulai, Gopalakrishna Bhajana Mandira Urundadi, New Friends Circle Krishnapura, Transport Workers' Union Suratkal, Jaya - Karnataka Suratkal and DYFI Suratkal took part in the protest.