Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Mar 11: Canara Shuttle Bus Services Association, Kinnigoli zone president, Durgaprasad Hegde, said in a press meet that the bus owners are facing huge losses on account of collecting toll charges even from buses moving on the Hejamady interior road. The association therefore has decided to take shuttle service buses off the roads from March 15 in protest against the above unjustified move, he stated.
"We are already paying monthly tax of Rs 15,000 to the regional transport office. As per the current rate, every trip costs additional amount of Rs 250 per trip. The toll charges are more than the motor vehicle tax. At the same time, diesel price is shooting up. Unless the district administration and people's representatives intervene and provide relief to bus owners, the agitation will go ahead as planned," he asserted.
Hejamady toll gate (file photo)
Hegde stated that the association is not seeking the concession the shuttle buses enjoyed before February 17. He said that the bus owners are prepared to pay some toll charges but payment of over Rs 25,000 per month by way of toll charges is too much to bear. "Out of 40 buses on this route, only 32 are plying now. We regret the inconvenience that may be caused to the people, but the district administration, MP and MLAs to whom our problems were explained, have not done anything to mitigate our hardships. Therefore, the bus owners together have decided to stop movement of shuttle buses," he stated.
A number of organizations including Rashtriya Heddari Horata Samithi will be supporting the bandh call. Shekhar Hejamady of Heddari Horata Samiti said that all the anti-toll organizations between Talapady and Saligrama will meet soon and lay siege to the tollgate at Hejamady.
Harish Putran of Mulky Nagarika Albhivriddhi Samithi, Sudhakar Hejamady, former president of Hejamady gram panchayat, Kilpady gram panchayat vice president, Gopinath Padanga, and secretary of Bus Owners Association, Rajesh Shetty, were present.