Mohan Kuthar

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Mar 3: Local residents of Talapady and passengers arriving into Mangaluru city from Kerala protested against the tollgate authority, NHAI and city bus owners against the city buses of Talapady route not going to Talapady bus stand but turning near the toll gate which is causing inconvenience to public as they have to walk for one km.

The protesters made a human chain and stood in front of the tollgate and allowed the city buses to go to Talapady station without paying toll the whole day.

Speaking on the occasion, Vinay Naik, former member of zilla panchayat, who led the protesters, said, "When the tollgate was built, eight acres of land was bought for just Rs 12,000 per cent. In addition, they encroached government land also. Now they are creating difficulties for local residents by charging toll fare to city buses. The personnel of tollgate who scream if people stand in front of the tollgate, do not utter a word against the city buses which park in front of the toll gate itself. This means that the toll gate personnel are hand in glove with the bus owners. District administration should immediately respond to the issue of the villagers."

Zilla panchayat member Surekha Chandrahas said, "The district administration has shut its eyes even when elderly people and students walk in high temperatures. It is really regrettable that the villagers are put to inconvenience even after providing land and water during the building of the toll gate. If this continues, we will resort to intense protest."

Siddiquie Talapady of Gadinadu Rakshana Vedike said, "Tollgate personnel should not test the patience of villagers. If we lose our patience, it is not possible for the toll gate to function. They should immediately speak to the city bus personnel and reciprocate to the inconvenience faced by the public."

Talapady Bus owners' association had appealed to the tollgate authorities that it will pay an amount of Rs two lac per month for 31 buses. Though they held meetings in this regard twice in Ullal police station and office of the deputy commissioner, the meeting did not take place as authorities of Navyug company did not respond. Navyug company is demanding Rs 10,000 for mini bus and Rs 20,000 for big buses per month. But Kareem, president of Talapady Bus owners' association says that it is not possible for the bus owners to pay such a huge amount every month to the toll gate authorities.

After the protest meeting, a human chain was formed from the spot where the Talapady route buses take turns till the toll gate. The protesters held verbal argument with the toll gate authorities and urged them to allow the city buses to go to Talapady bus stand without paying toll. Both the protesters and toll gate personnel engaged in a fierce war of words. Sandeep, station officer of Ullal, who arrived at the spot, brought the situation under control. Finally, the buses were allowed to pass the toll gate without paying any toll throughout the day by the toll gate authority.

Taluk panchayat member Siddique Kolangere, Talapady panchayat member Ismail K C Road and social worker Yashu Pakala were present.