Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 15: Talapady tollgate, where collection of charges began in spite of protests, has been in the news for wrong reasons ever since. A person who drove his car through this gate, has complained that the staff at the gate issued him an already used ticket in exchange for money.

Zainul Abideen, resident of Bokkapatna here, had visited Keralakatte with family in his car on Tuesday. He says that at around 1.20 pm on Tuesday, he had paid Rs 35 for one-way travel and obtained ticket. But he says he observed sometime after passing the gate that the ticket issued to him bore registration number of some other vehicle, and that the timing of the ticket was mentioned as 8.37 am. He says he went back to the gate and questioned the staff, at which the man at the counter apologized for the mistake. Abideen says that when he approached the manager of the toll plaza with the complaint, he did not receive any support.

On their part, the toll staff claim that on his arrival at the gate, Abideen had demanded for two-way ticket. After the toll staff printed this ticket for Rs 50, Abideen changed his mind and sought one-way ticket, they say. As the staff were likely to lose money if they printed the ticket again, they handed over a ticket for Rs 35 already lying with them, which gave rise to this contention, they say.

Toll charges collection has otherwise been smooth at Talapady and local vehicles are being extended concession on the bases of the registration numbers of vehicles.

Various organizations had been carrying out protest on both sides of the toll plaza since the last five days, in support of their demands, which included extending concession to locals. Dakshina Kannada district administration had temporarily exempted locals from payment of toll charges. This concession has been extended till February 25, and the people living within five km radius of the toll plaza have been asked to provide their Adhar card and vehicle details to the toll plaza. At the same time, problems connected with school vehicles and taxis is continuing. It is gathered that Navayuga company officials who run the toll gate, have sought information from the regional transport office at Manjeshwar about the details of local vehicles.

In the meanwhile, the organizations have put off their protest plan till February 25. They are awaiting response for their demands and plan to resume agitation if the demands are not considered sympathetically by then.