Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Aug 1: The BJP Belman Maha Shaktikendra has submitted a memorandum to Udupi district officials, urging the immediate revocation of the state government's order to commence toll collection on the Karkala-Padubidri-Belman road. The order, which directs Bharathi Constructions from Hassan to start toll collection from August 16, has faced strong opposition from local residents due to the additional financial burden it imposes.

The proposed toll collection center, if established, would require commuters traveling between Karkala and Mangaluru via Belman to pay tolls twice within a mere 6 km stretch. This move comes at a time when citizens are already reeling under the impact of rising fuel prices. The BJP argues that the new toll will further strain the finances of the local population, calling it a significant betrayal by the state government to the residents of Karkala and Belman.

In the past, under the leadership of then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a similar toll proposal near Belman was revoked due to strong protests led by Karkala MLA V Sunil Kumar and local residents. The BJP claims that the current Congress government, under Siddaramaiah's leadership, is once again causing undue hardship to the public with its decision to reinstate toll collection in the area.

Present at the submission of the memorandum were former ZP member and BJP district general secretary Reshma Uday Shetty, BJP district vice-president Bol Jayaram Salyan, Belman Maha Shaktikendra president Devendra Shetty, key figures including Suryakant Shetty, Balakrishna Hegde, Praveen Salyan, Belman Gram Panchayat vice-president Sandeep Anchan, Gram Panchayat member Prem Kulal, Dayanand Shetty, Mohan Shetty Bol, Kiran Shetty, Vishal Salyan, Nandalike Gram Panchayat member Nityanand Amin, Girish Shetty, and others.