Mangaluru: The private service and express buses which move towards Kinnigoli and Udupi through NITK tollgate near Surathkal have been given a deadline of December 10 by the toll staff to pay the revised toll fee. But this means the buses will have to shell out a huge fee to pass through. Thus, the fee has in turn has become a huge burden for common people and the buses.

As per the available information, it is being said that the owners of buses have decided to suspend operations of their buses if toll charges are not brought down.

Durgaprasad Shetty who is the president of the Kinnigoli Zone Bus Owners Association said that the new contractors of NITK toll have asked the buses to either pay revised rates with effect from December 10 or stop operations.

“About 35 buses move to Kinnigoli from Surathkal every day. Till now, buses going to Kinnigoli used to get passes at the rate of Rs 4,000 per month, while Udupi express buses got monthly passes at Rs 5,500. Now we have been asked to hike the fee to Rs 17,000 or 18,000 which will be a huge burden on bus owners and passengers,” he informed.

Pointing out that no toll charges are collected for local buses in Hejamady and Talapady toll gates Mr Shetty wanted to know why arbitrary rules have been implemented here. The buses are facing shortage of daily collection, he added.

“We have brought to the notice of the district in-charge minister about our demand on Sunday. He has promised to instruct the deputy commissioner suitably,” he said.