Daijiworld Media Network -Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Aug 26: State president of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) Muneer Katipalla and Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samiti convener on Friday, August 26 demanded the government to announce the date for removing the Suratkal toll plaza. 

Addressing a press meet here, Muneer said, "The toll gate has been functioning illegally for the past six years in Surthkal. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) official said that the toll gate will be scrapped within a month in a meeting that was held in Zilla Panchayat. We welcome the statement of the NH official. But, people have lost faith in such assurances. The district administration or the NHAI should announce an authentic date for the removal of the toll plaza."

He also said Toll Gate Virodhi Samithi along with like-minded organisations will hold an agitation in front of the toll gate on September 13.

The temporary toll plaza which was started for a period of just six months continued to collect toll for six years. The toll plaza from BC Road to Mukka has collected Rs 45o crores. Efforts are on to curtail the protests by giving assurance of scrapping the toll plaza, he added.

He also stressed that the district administration or the NHAI should declare the date for the removal of the toll gate. Though the toll gate is removed, the toll charges in other toll plazas should not be hiked. All the potholes should be filled and street lights should be installed on the national highway, he said.