Mangalore: Tollgate dispute - Suratkal bandh, road blockade organized
Sunil Haleangady
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)
Mangalore, Mar 28: Suratkal Nagarika Samiti and Anti Tollgate Action Committee continued their agitation against the construction of a tollgate near National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) in Suratkal on Wednesday March 27. They led a huge rally from Suratkal to NITK and symbolically blocked the national highway 66 for a brief period in front of NITK campus.
President of Nagarika Samiti, Subhaschandra Shetty, addressing the protesters, reiterated that the decision to build the tollgate was illegal. He said that tollgates cannot come up within the limits of Mangalore City Corporation, and warned that the arrogant behavior of National Highways Authority of India will get fitting reply through the court.
T N Ramesh of Nagarika Samiti said that the hands of the people’s representatives are tied now because of the prevalence of election code of conduct. “The officials are trying to encash the opportunity arising out of this situation. The people will snub the officials for this behavior,” he said.
City corporator, Revati Putran, who represents the local ward, said that the corporation has already adopted a resolution against the construction of the tollgate here, and that the officials here have been apprised of the genuine problems faced by the local people. She said that tollgate will not be allowed to be built at the spot at any cost, as the place lacks various facilities needed for the construction of a tollgate.
City corporators, Ashok Shetty, Pratibha Kulai, Sumitra, Ayaaz, former corporator, Harish, Mahabala Rai Mukka, Pushparaj Shetty Kudumboor and office bearers of Rickshaw Owners and Drivers Association, Tourist Car Owners and Drivers Association, etc participated in the protest. Suratkal police personnel, led by assistant commissioner of police, Ravikumar, oversaw the law and order situation.
The call given by the agitators for a Suratkal bandh on Wednesday March 27 in protest against the decision of the NHAI officials to build the tollgate near NITK Suratkal received wholehearted response. Businessmen voluntarily downed their shutters to show their solidarity with the protestors.