Nagarika Samithi alleges NHAI of foul play

Nagarika Samithi, Mangaluru has accused that the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) of allegedly smoothing the way for the construction of Toll Plaza near NITK, Surathkal, even though the service road has not been constructed in the region.

Briefing reporters, in Mangaluru, on Wednesday, Nagarika Samithi President Subhashchandra Shetty said NHAI Project Director Ram Mishra had issued a letter of completion to the then Deputy Commissioner N Prakash, saying that the construction of 108 km road was complete and the permission could be granted for the construction of toll plaza. However, the letter did not mention the Highway number and the road project, he said and alleged that this was a par of foul play of NHAI and the toll plaza builders.

At the time, the Samithi staged a protest with the citizen to stop the construction of the toll plaza. But recently, another effort was made three weeks earlier at Mukka near NITK, Surathkal, to build the toll booth and again a protest was staged to stop the Nagpur based construction company. MLA Mohiyuddin Bava spoke to the DC, who in turn spoke to NHAI Project Director and clarified that no toll plaza could be constructed without the construction of service road, drainage facility, bus stands, bus bay, Baikampadi railway over bridge work.

A meeting as also scheduled on March 21 in this regard.

But, neglecting the instruction of the DC, the Indradeep Company started the work of Toll gate at Mukka on March 18. The constructors were assisted by hooligans, Subhashchandra Shetty alleged. When the work resumed on March 20, the MLA spoke to the Chief Minister in this regard. As a result, the work on toll plaza was stopped and later a meeting was held with NHAI and construction company officials. A memorandum has been submitted to the DC, he said.