Samithi warns stir against toll collection

Members of Rashtriya Heddari Jagrithi took out a padayatra against the permission given to National Highway Authority of India and Navayug Construction Company to once gain collect toll from local vehicles at Hejamady and Sastan (Gundmi) tollgates from Monday, at Sastan against tollgate on Sunday.

Though the permission for the same was given earlier this year, the toll collection was stopped following the protest by local residents.

Samithi president Prathap Shetty said, “We have been protesting against the toll collection for the last several years. We were successful in our protest all these years. In spite of our demand to exempt toll collection from local vehicles, the Navayug Construction Company (contractor of four-laning of NH 66 from Talapady to Kundapur) and NHAI are going ahead with its decision to collect toll from Monday.”

He said District in Charge Minister Jayamala had called a meeting in this regard at the office of Deputy Commissioner on November 28.

“We will not give toll from Monday. We will wait till the meeting is over. The company has not provided service roads, drains and streetlights,” he added.

Shetty said if the toll was collected from Udupi district-registered commercial and non-commercial vehicles, then the Samithi will stage a protest.

The protesters later submitted a memorandum to Kota police.