Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Oct 16: The tollgate at Belman across the state highway between Padubidri and Karkala, which was expected to begin collection of tollgate on October 15, did not begin collection as expected.

A company from Mysuru, which has bagged the contract for toll collection, has not even made preliminary preparations for toll collection work so far.

People from the area led by prominent personalities had held protest against the proposed tollgate. An action committee had also been formed to chalk out protest plans against the proposed tollgate. Speaking to media on Monday, Nishith Kumar, project officer of Mithra Info Solutions from Mysuru, which has bagged contract for this tollgate, said that the toll collection has been put off in view of protests by locals.

He said that Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd has drawn up the attention of the government towards the protests by local people against the proposed toll collection. He said that the government has asked the deputy commissioner of the district to convene a meeting of legislators and other leaders shortly to discuss the issue and take a final decision.