Navayuga Udupi Tollway Private Limited has commenced efforts to clear shops near the Talapady toll gate, triggering appeals from local residents and Talapady grama panchayat members to halt the operation. The toll plaza officials have set a deadline of July 20 for the shops to vacate, with demolition threatened for non-compliance.
The initiative follows a Supreme Court order from March 2024 mandating the evacuation of roadside shops from Kundapura to Talapady. Initially, notices were issued by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) in March, primarily targeting vendors who had not complied. Many vendors had sublet or sold their spaces in anticipation of enforcement.
Timmiah, senior manager at Navayuga Udupi Tollway, affirmed, “As per the Supreme Court order, shops within 60 to 90 feet of the highway must be vacated. After multiple notices, today marks the final deadline. We will proceed with demolitions if necessary.”
Siddique Talapady from Gadinadu Rakshana Vedike expressed concerns over the forceful eviction attempts, advocating for leniency, especially for longstanding businesses like a milk shop operating for 22 years.
Navayuga Udupi Tollway plans to upgrade infrastructure, including converting street lights to LED and conducting service road and drainage works post-monsoon. Community concerns about the fair implementation of the eviction order, particularly affecting those on government land, have been voiced.
The situation remains fluid as stakeholders navigate the balance between legal directives and the impact on local livelihoods.