Mandya: A protest by Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha near the Gananguru toll plaza on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway ended after the authorities agreed to exempt farmers’ vehicles carrying agricultural produce from paying toll and allow free passage through the gates.Farmers alleged toll was being collected from vehicles transporting farm produce even though they gave up land for the highway, calling the practice unjust and seeking a Punjab-style farmer-friendly exemption. The protesters marched to the toll plaza, raised slogans against the Centre and NHAI, lifted toll barriers, and allowed agricultural vehicles to pass without payment, thereby creating brief tension as police tried to disperse the gathering.The protest escalated when a highway official said he could not speak Kannada, prompting objections over posting non-Kannada-speaking officers in Mandya.After talks with farmer leaders, NHAI officials agreed to the toll exemption and said it would apply on both sides of the toll road, after which the agitation was withdrawn.
