Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 13: Deputy commissioner of the district, Priyanka Mary Francis, stated that owners of tourist taxis bearing registration numbers beginning with KA20 can pay toll charges at the tollgate as per rules after obtaining concessional passes. She said that under this arrangement, taxi owners will get ten percent concession in charges payable.

On Monday, office bearers of Udupi District Taximens Association, who are opposed to collection of toll charges at Hejamady without completion of highway works, had handed over a memorandum to the deputy commissioner on Monday containing their demands. The deputy commissioner also told them that she would be raising the topic of slow progress of highway works including at Padubidri at the government's secretary-level meeting being held at Bengaluru on February 21.

Former MLA, K Raghupati Bhat, who happens to be the president of the district taximens association and honorary general secretary, Ramesh Kotian, said that the taxi operators would be holding a strong protest at Hejamady tollgate from February 13 onward, if the toll staff continue to demand toll charges without sorting out problems.

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee secretary, Dr Deviprasad Shetty, noted that highway work has been improperly executed, adding that there is wide difference between the detailed project report and the actual works executed. He said that he would be joining hands with people launching apolitical fight against this injustice and wanted toll charge collections to resume only after the works are completed.