Daijiworld Media Network – Karkala (DC)

Karkala , Oct 6: The BJP on Friday protested against the state government for its move to collect toll charges from the commuters in Belman from October 15.

Addressing the protesters, Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar said, "The treasury of the state government is empty. Hence to fill its treasury, it has decided to extort toll charges from the commuters in state highways. The state government has decided to collect toll charges from vehicles moving on Padubidri-Karkala route in Belman from October 15. It is undemocratic. Already the state government has decided to impose Rs 2 cess on petrol causing inconvenience to the common man,"

The protest was organised in Belman town under BJP Shakthi Kendra.

Warning the state government of aggressive protest, Sunil Kumar said, "As per the guidelines of the central government, tollgates must have a gap of 50 kilometres. Whereas if a tollgate is opened in Belman, the commuters will have to pay toll charges in three places Hejamady, Suratkal and Belman with a distance of only 60 kilometres. This undemocratic and illegal way of collecting toll charges must be cancelled. Otherwise we will protest aggressively,”

“The state government has decided to collect toll charges three years after the road is constructed. When the road construction was proposed, there was no mention about toll collection. How they can all of a sudden decide to collect toll?,” he asked.

Sunil Kumar also said that he has complete support to the protest call given by the public on Sunday October 7.
BJP leaders Bola Sadashiva Shetty, Navin Nayak, Reshma Udaya Shetty, Prakash Shetty, Malini J Shetty, Shakthi Centre president Bola Jayarama Salian and others were present.