Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Mar 1: Dakshina Kannada MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, directed National Highways Authority of India officials to maintain status quo as regards collection of toll charges on national highway 66 till March. He said that a meeting on this issue is being organized at Bengaluru on this date.
He was speaking at a meeting on the issue convened at the auditorium of Dakshina Kannada district deputy commisisoner's office on Tuesday February 28. He said that the said meeting will be held in the presence of principal secretaries of PWD, as well as inland waterways department.
Kateel warned of stringent action against the guilty if charges are collected in violation of the decision taken at this meeting. He also instructed police officials to register criminal cases against anyone who shows disrespect to this decision and fails to abide by this instruction.
Deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, Dr K G Jagadish, felt that there is a need to address issues faced by people at Gundmi and Hejamady Navayuga tollgates in Udupi district and Talapady in Dakshina Kannada district. He asked representatives of organizations who will be participating in the proposed meeting at Vikasa Soudha to furnish their list of demands. He suggested that those who have objections towards collection charges have to show unity at the meeting and come up with an unanimous stand.
Some locals suggested to minister Khader that it would be convenient if a bridge is built for Cheruvathur Road across Talapady rivulet near the toll road so that the locals can use this alternative road. The people also complained that the tollgate officials had agreed to allow local buses to move through emergency exit till February 27 but all of a sudden, Navayuga infrastructure company had closed this route on February 23, thus putting the students appearing for examination into inconvenience. Minister Khader, who concurred with them, noted that many people living in the state's border with Kerala have meagre means and hence when fixing toll charges, it should be ensured that it does not become a burden for them.
Additional deputy commissioner, Kumar, deputy commissioner of police (law and order), Shantaraju, and president of taluk panchayat here, Muhammed Monu, were present.