Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Feb 7: Government of Karnataka has decided to stop the tollgate that is functioning at Suratkal on national highway 66. This tollgate is facing lots of issues right from its inception.

Ercon Company had built the four-lane road between Bantwal and Suratkal and the toll collection responsibility was given to a company from Rajasthan. After thisl, a company called Navayuga built the four-lane road till Hejamady and set up the toll gate in Hejamady for the collection of toll. As two different companies have done the construction of the road at a very short distance, the toll is being collected at Brahmarakootlu, Suratkal and Hejamady. These tollgates are at a very short distance to each other.

In addition, the facilities, that need to be provided by the private highway construction company, are not given at Suratkal toll gate. The road quality is also not good after Suratkal. There were several protests from various organizations and civil rights associations against this tollgate in the past.

Shortage of facilities

According to the rule of National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), there should not be two tollgates within a distance of 60 km. In addition, service road should be provided on both sides of the highway. There should be parking and toilets at the tollgate. However, there is no service road and parking space near Suratkal tollgate.

Letter sent to stop tollgate

The toll collection contract will expire in the month of July 2018. Karnataka state government has sent an official letter to the NHAI asking not to collect toll after July 2018. This decision was taken at a meeting that was held January 2017 between the chief secretary of public works department of the state and officials of NHAI. It is learnt that a letter has been already sent to the state regional office of the NHAI by the chief secretary of the public works department of the state and the same is forwarded to Delhi central office of NHAI by the regional NHAI office.

If the central office of National Highway Authority does not take a suitable decision by May 2018, there is a possibility of re-tender and continuation of the collection of toll at Suratkal toll gate.

It may be recalled that Nalin Kumar Kateel, Member of Parliament and Dr H C Mahadevappa, minister, public works department have stated that once the period of toll collection contract is over, Suratkal tollgate will be cancelled and merged with Hejamady tollgate.

Ajit Kumar, engineer, NHAI, says "The contract of Suratkal tollgate will get over in the month of July 2018. Chief secretary has informed to stop this tollgate after July 2018 in the meeting of the public works department. Official letter in this regard is forwarded to the central office of NHAI by the regional office of NHAI. Officers of the NHAI will take a suitable decision in this regard."

Moideen Bava, MLA, Mangaluru North constituency, said, "Chief secretary of the public works department has written a letter to NHAI. Pressure will be exerted on the central department officials of NHAI not to call the retender for the Suratkal tollgate by visiting Delhi and attracting their attention on the same. At the same time, we will also stress on merging the Suratkal toll gate with the one at Hejamady."