Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Dec 28: The National Highway Awareness Committee, Sasthana, supported by local citizens, organizations, and student groups, has announced a protest against toll charges and poor maintenance at the Sasthana toll plaza. The protest is scheduled for December 31 at 9 am at the Sasthana toll plaza.

Addressing the media at a press meet on December 28, former general secretary Irodi Vittala Poojary stated, “In a previous meeting led by local MPs, MLAs, and the district administration, it was decided to exempt all vehicles under the Kota Zilla Panchayat jurisdiction from toll charges at Sasthana Toll Plaza. For several years, local vehicles enjoyed toll-free travel. However, after the management and road maintenance contract was transferred from Navayuga Company to KKR Company, toll charges were imposed on local commercial vehicles without prior notice. The KKR Company appears to prioritize recovering its investments over public welfare. This violates the original rules set by the government during the toll plaza's construction. If KKR does not respond to our demands in the meeting on December 30, we will stage a protest on December 31.”

Alwyn Andrade, chief secretary, highlighted the poor state of road maintenance under KKR's management, saying, “Since taking over the contract a year ago, KKR has failed to maintain the roads. Streetlights remain non-functional, pedestrian pathways are riddled with potholes, and dividers are cluttered with garbage and debris. Overgrown roadside vegetation adds to the hazards. The toll plaza often faces congestion due to heavy trucks, causing inconvenience to pedestrians, cyclists, and smaller vehicles. Additionally, the highway has over 20 black spots where frequent accidents result in fatalities and permanent disabilities. Despite public outcry, neither KKR nor the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has taken effective measures to address these issues.”

The protesters have put forward the following demands:

• Toll fee exemption for local vehicles.
• Construction of service roads along the highway.
• Proper maintenance of streetlights and white lane markings.
• Immediate repair of pedestrian pathways and accident-prone zones (black spots).

The protest is expected to gain significant support, with shops and establishments in the area planning to shut down in solidarity.

The press meet was attended by former president Prathap Shetty, saligrama town panchayat president Sukanya Shetty, pandeshwara gram panchayat president Sushila Poojary, irodi gram panchayat member Nataraj Ganiga, kota panchayat president Jyothi Bharat Shetty, kotathattu gram panchayat president Satish Kunder, waddarse gram panchayat member Harish Shetty, honorary president of the Lorry Owners Association Boja Poojary, and highway awareness committee members Nagaraj Ganiga, Prashant Shetty, Sandeep Kunder, Mahabala Poojary, and others.