Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP) 

Mangaluru, Jul 17: Separate protests were staged by the general public, Congress party and the BJP, opposing proposal to collect toll charges from vehicles bearing KA 19 (Mangaluru) registrations with effect from July 16 at the NITK tollgate, Suratkal. The protesters, who gathered in large numbers at the tollgate on Tuesday morning, expressed resentment at the levying of toll fee on local vehicles. 

Convener of the Anti Toll Action Committee, Muneer Katipalla, speaking on the occasion, said that the protesters have secured temporary victory for their fight as Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister, U T Khader, intervened in the matter and ensured that the district administration denied right to collect toll fee from local vehicles. He added that the district administration has asked the firm which has got contract to run the tollgate at NITK to maintain status quo till further orders. 

Reminding that the district administration had earlier permitted collection of toll fee from local vehicles under police protection, he said that the loot at the tollgate can be permanently stopped if MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, and MLA, Bharath Shetty, take a cue from minister Khader and discharge their responsibilities at the central government level. 

Former minister, Abhayachandra Jain, former MLA, Vijayakumar Shetty, youth Congress leader, Mithun Rai and many other were present. Mithun Rai, recollecting that the highway is in despicable condition, and day-night protest held for ten days a few months back against this tollgate has been overlooked, called upon the people to hit the MP with footwear. 

BJP workers also held protest near the spot where the said committee organized protest, and raised slogans.