Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Aug 10: Despite stiff opposition from locals and various organisations, the groundbreaking ceremony for a new toll gate on the Padubidri-Karkala state highway took place on Saturday, August 10, leading to a verbal altercation between the locals and the toll construction company.
The proposed toll gate on State Highway 1, connecting Padubidri to Karkala, has faced consistent resistance from the local community and various organizations.
Recently, the Karnataka State Highway Development Project awarded the toll collection contract to a company based in Hassan. On the day of the ceremony, the Hassan-based company's staff suddenly chose a site in Kanchinadka on the Padubidri-Karkala highway for the toll gate construction and conducted the groundbreaking ceremony there.
Upon learning about the event, local leaders from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike organisation went to the site to inquire about the relevant documents. This led to a heated verbal exchange with the company staff.
Subsequently, the materials used for the ceremony, including the ceremonial stone, were removed by those who conducted the puja.
Police arrived at the scene and, after holding discussions with government engineers and locals, they instructed the company’s staff to halt work until proper procedures were followed.
The company staff was sent back with a warning to start work only after addressing the concerns of the local community.