Mangaluru: Former MLA Vijay Kumar Shetty alleged that the tollgate near National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK) was built and the charges are being collected only to rob the people and make some officials rich.
Addressing the protesters after participating in the indefinite strike organised by Anti Tollgate Committee demanding for the closure of tollgate and opposing the renewal of licence on Tuesday, October 23, Shetty said though tollgate on BC Road and Suratkal falls in Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) limits and the distance between these two places is very less, toll was being collected illegally. Citing that the stretch was in a pathetic condition, he said that there was no meaning in collecting toll. He demanded an immediate shut down of the tollgate.
Anti Tollgate Committee Convener Muneer Katipalla blamed the decision of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel to renew the permission of the tollgate at Suratkal, contrary to his assurance on the closure of the same. “He is not concerned about the demands of the people. The ongoing protest will be withdrawn only if the tollgate remains closed,” he stressed.
Janata Dal (S) District President Muhammed Kunhi, leaders T N Ramesh, M G Hegde, Revathi Puthran and Suratkal Block Congress President K Sadashiva Shetty among others were present.