Udupi: The Toll Gate-Sunka Vasulathi Kendra Horata Samithi will organise a protest on Sunday, October 7 against the proposal for the opening of a toll gate at Belman in Belman town. “The Karkala-Padubidri State Highway was established by private contractor RNS Group four years ago with the state government funds. It is undemocratic for the state government to collect toll in Belman four years after the completion of the project,” said N Suhas Hegde, President of the Toll Gate- Sunka Vasulathi Kendra Horata Samiti.
Addressing a press meet at the Udupi Press Club here on Saturday, October 6, Hegde said that as per the guidelines of the central government, the toll gates must have a gap of 50 kilometres. Whereas, if a toll gate is opened in Belman, the commuters will have to pay toll charges in three places- Hejamady, Surathkal and Belman- all within a distance of only 50 kilometres. This undemocratic and illegal way of collecting toll charges must be withdrawn,” he said.
“There was no mention of toll collection when the road construction was proposed. Then a private company called Mithr Info-Solution got the contract to establish a toll plaza at Belman. How was it suddenly decided to collect toll?” he asked.
Leaders from different parties, religious leaders, institutions and people have promised to take part in the demonstration in Belman against the toll plaza. Around 10,000 people are expected to participate in the protest, he added.
Belman advocate Sarvajna Tantri, Shashidar Shetty, Hariprasad Nandalike, Sharad Shetty Kinnigoli and others were present.
