Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (SS)

Mangaluru, Oct 19: State BJP president and MP Nalin Kumar Kateel said it was the BJP which had first opposed setting up of the Surathkal toll plaza.

Reacting to the large-scale protests witnessed on Tuesday, Nalin said, "There is no problem in removing the Surathkal toll gate. Initially, when the toll gate was established, our party was the first to oppose it. Due to a technical issue the removal of the toll plaza has been delayed. We have asked for 20 days. But, there is no meaning in taking law into one's hands and staging such protests.”

Speaking to reporters, Nalin said the Centre is committed to removing the Surathkal toll plaza that exists on the NH-66 near the NITK. When the toll plaza was set up in 2013, Nagarika Hitarakshana Vedike had opposed it. Toll gates were put up at Talapady and Hejamady in 2019. The highway was developed on a BOT (build, operate and transfer) basis when the toll gate was set up.

He said he had held several meetings with officials of National Highway Authority of India regarding the removal of Surathkal toll gate. Nalin said Minister for Road Transfer and Highways Nitin Gadkari had also assured the members of Lok Sabha that the toll gate would be removed.

Nalin said in the light of these developments it is not correct for protesters to lay siege and stage protests. However, there is nothing wrong to stage protest in a democracy but it should be done peacefully and not by taking law into their hands which will necessitate action, he said.