Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 16: The decision taken to collect toll charges even for local vehicles at NITK Suratkal tollgate has met with strong resentment. Various organizations, who have approached the authorities to waive fee for KA 19 registration vehicles at the tollgate, have warned of holding protect if the decision to collect charges is implemented as per decision from Tuesday July 16 onward.

Leaders of the committee opposing lack of proper arrangements and haphazard levying of toll fee since the tollgate at Suratkal commenced operations, met the district deputy commissioner here on Monday and demanded for permanent closure of this gate. BJP has extended support to the protest call given by the committee.

In its report to the government, Keshav Aggarwal firm, which had got contract too run this gate, had informed that it was facing loss of two lac rupees each day because of concessions extended to local vehicles. On this basis, the deputy commissioner had empowered the firm to collect fee from even local vehicles. He had also ordered police protection to the toll staff.

The committee has planned protest in front of the said tollgate with the support of leaders from all parties and local citizens at 7.30 am today. If the toll collection for KA 19 vehicles begins, it has been decided to collectively foil this effort.

District in-charge minister U T Khader, has already written to the chief secretary of the state, asking him to block the action of the national highways authority to collect toll charges from locals with effect from July 16. He has asked the concerned to act on a letter written by the action committee against the toll gate.

The highway between NITK and the city has turned torturous with pot holes, and bad patches. The highway is devoid of service roads and has not been maintained well. There are no drains and the tollgate at Suratkal is lacking several facilities which ought to be provided in tollgates. The centre here functions under tin sheets, and the people are expected to pay higher charges because of the mistake committed by officials in granting powers to collect fee from local registration vehicles which undertake multiple trips through this gate every day.