Mangaluru : KA 19 registration will also have to pay toll at the Surathkal toll gate on NH 66 from March 1.

Meanwhile, the Action Committee Against Tollgate is gearing up to hold protest near Surathkal toll gate on February 28.

The toll collection from local vehicles was stopped at Surathkal toll booth following series of protests held by various political parties and organizations. District administration had directed the tollgate contractors to stop toll collection for local vehicles few months ago. However, the authorities have decided to collect toll from local vehicles too from March 1. Political parties and various organisations are gearing up to hold second round of protest against the move and a token protest with public meet will be held near the toll gate.

Action Committee convener Muneer Katipalla said a protest will be organized to demand closure of Surathkal tollgate and for a new bridge across Phalguni River at Kuloor in Mangaluru. “The district administration and National Highway Authority of India had promised to consider our demand when the action committee held 11 days’ protest in October last year. However, instead of stopping the toll collection the tollgate has decided to collect money even from private vehicles bearing registration number KA 19. In fact, a toll gate was opened in 2016 on a temporary basis and it was promised that it will be merged with the one at Hejmady in Udupi. However, people are forced to pay toll for vehicles at booths in Hejamdy and Surathkal though the distance between the two points is just nine kms,” Muneer said.

He said the action committee has been holding protests against the toll collection at Surathkal for the past two years. “A government level meeting held in Bengaluru in Janaury 2018 had resolved to merge Surathkal tollgate with the one at Hejmady. However, the contract to collect toll from Surathkal is being renewed ignoring the decision,” Muneer said.

Purushotham Chithrapur, former deputy mayor, people are forced to pay toll twice just to travel 9 kms between Surathkal and Hejmady. District minister U T Khader said he will convene a meeting of NHAI officials to discuss about Surathkal tollgate issue through chief secretary in Bengaluru soon. “State government cannot take a decision on NH tollgates. Only the Parliament can modify rules related to NHAI. I will convene a meeting in Benglauru soon,” he added.