Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Brahmavar (SP)

Brahmavar, Nov 23: In the light of the government's instruction mandating Fastag for all the vehicles in the country from December 1 onward, Rashtriya Heddari Jagruthi Samiti visited Sastan toll plaza. A large crowd had gathered at the toll plaza on Friday November 22. The delegation wanted to impress upon the concerned to continue with the toll concession to vehicles located within the zilla panchayat constituency limits and to make separate arrangements for the local vehicles at the plaza.

Addressing the people, president of the Samiti, Pratap Shetty, said that they had gathered here to collect information about the fate of local vehicles in view of the government order to introduce Fastag from December 1. He said they want to know about the fate of concession being extended to local vehicles. "The toll plaza people have not yet got any concrete information. Therefore, we have requested them to continue to maintain status quo. We, the locals, will not pay toll charges at any cost. Moreover, two lanes out of the Fastag lane should be reserved for local vehicles. We have no objection about Fastag system but if our vehicles are made to stand in long queue and if concession extended to us is withdrawn, we will undertake strong measures of protest," he warned.

Sastan toll plaza in-charge Keshavamurthy, said that they have so far not received any information about concession about local vehicles. He said that they will get information by Monday and that the current facility is available till December 1. "We will inform about further developments as and when received," he stated.

Heddari Jagruti Samiti leaders Vittal Poojary Airody, Shyamsundar Nairy, Govind Poojary, Bhoja Poojary, Suresh Giliyar, Alwyn Andre, Rajesh Kaveri, Nagaraj Ganiga and others were present.