Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Feb 12: Tollgate Horata Samiti, Surathkal warns of protests and will not allow any toll collection if concessions on local vehicles are not retained during the time when fastag is made compulsory after February 15 at Surathkal tollgate. The samiti also demands the merger of Surathkal and Hejmady tollgate.

Addressing the media, here, on Friday February 12, Muneer Katipalla said, "There was a concession on local vehicles at Surathkal tollgate which has been illegally functioning for several years. The concession was given to local vehicles in this tollgate, but once the fastag is made compulsory from February 15, local vehicles are also bound to pay the toll.

"It was stated that it will merge with Hejmady tollgate, but even though the state government ordered for a merger with Hejmady in 2018, it still has not been implemented.

"We have been continuously protesting against the illegal Surathkal tollgate, but have been given false assurances. Today in the name of Fastag everyone including local vehicles should pay the toll which is unacceptable and is a violation of the assurance given to us. People of Mulky need to pay toll at both tollgates if they travel either to Udupi or Mangaluru. It has been three years since the order was approved for the merger of tollgate which has not been implemented. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel who is now the state president kept giving assurances as he lacks the willpower to implement the tollgate merger.

Horata Samiti members Harish Puthran, Devdaas, Dinesh Kumpala, Shekar Hejmady, Purushottam Chitrapura, Dayananda Shetty, Rasheed Mukka, Dhanraj Sasihitlu, Ramesh T N, Santhosh Bajal and others were present.