Mangaluru: The closure of the Kumbala tollgate in Kerala by a joint action committee inspired organisations in Dakshina Kannada to intensify their opposition to tollgates within a 60-km radius.Activists pointed out that a tollgate operated for over a decade at Brahmarakootlu on the Mangaluru–Bengaluru NH-75 stretch, and that the National Highways Authority of India is preparing to start toll collection at Valalu in Uppinangady, within 35km. Various political parties and organisations decided to organise a padayatra to the NHAI office in March to oppose toll collection in the district.Activist Muneer Katipalla said that the rule requiring a minimum distance of 60km between tollgates is being ignored in the construction of toll plazas. “Toll gates are being built in the district in violation of the distance rules,” he said.A toll plaza is being set up near Ganjimutt in Sooralpady on the Mangaluru – Moodubidire – Karkala National Highway 169. The toll gate is about 17km from Mangaluru. The Ganjimutt toll plaza is only 33km and 34km away from the Brahmarakootlu and Talapady tollgates, respectively, and 44km from the Hejamadi tollgate in Udupi. Additionally, toll plazas are under construction at Uppinangady’s Valalu and near Panapila on the Beltangady road, making a total of six tollgates in the region, said Muneer.“This will create a dire situation for vehicle drivers on the national highway,” he said, stressing the need for massive protests, similar to the agitation that led to the closure of Kumbala tollgate. Despite the seriousness of the situation, the MPs and MLAs of the region are not paying attention to this issue,” he said, alleging that public representatives are silently consenting to the construction of tollgates.Action committee member K Yadav Shetty said that a meeting involving the district administration and highway authority should be held in the presence of the district’s MPs and MLAs, along with citizens, to ensure strict adherence to distance rules in the establishment of tollgates. “If there is a lack of interest in this matter, the committee will organise simultaneous marches to the highway authority office from all tollgates in the district by forming local protest committees,” he warned.Will discuss with district minister: KhaderSpeaker UT Khader said that he will discuss the issue with district minister Dinesh Gundu Rao. “MPs and MLAs of the region should discuss the issue and try to bring clarity. There should be an MoU between the NHAI and the district administration for each national highway project. The MoU very clearly mentions details of the tollgates, service roads, bus stands, street lights and other amenities to be developed. However, people do not get information,” he said.
