Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Oct 30: Responding to the agitation being carried out without a break demanding for the closure of the tollgate at National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) since the last one week, Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner (DC), Sasikanth Senthil, held an emergency meeting with the representatives of the protesters on Monday October 29 to discuss the issue threadbare.
An official of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was present at the meeting along with the additional secretary of the state government. The official admitted that discussions were on about the merger of the Suratkal and Hejamady tollgates, but clarified that senior officials of the NHAI are yet to take a decision.
The DC told the protesters that a meeting would be held during the first week of November on the issue with the participation of minister, U T Khader, and a final decision would be conveyed after holding talks with the state chief secretary. He also assured to hold a meeting with the tollgate protesters at Bengaluru within a week on the issue, and pleaded with them to review their decision on the continuing with their ongoing dharna.
The DC also said that the old bridge at Kulur will not be closed down during the period works are undertaken, and that opinion of the locals and people's representatives would be pooled on the issue. He revealed that a sub-committee has been formed for the purpose.
Convener of the protesters, Muneer Katipalla, said that they are determined to carry on with the fight till the tollgate is shut down. He pointed out that state level meeting had been held in the past on this issue, but a clear solution has remained elusive. He therefore said that the dharna will not be shelved till the demand is met. At the same time, he appreciated the DC for taking note of the protest and holding the meeting.
The protesters have been pointing out that as per rules governing national highways, two tollgates cannot function within a distance of 60 km on the same direction, with certain exceptions having been given to this rule. The protesters have been pointing out that the distance between Hejamady and Suratkal tollgates is hardly nine km.
The protesters are angry at not getting full support of local MLA, Dr Bharath Shetty, and MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel. Some placards held by the protesters questioned the commitment of these people's representatives to the cause of the road users.