Dharna opposing tollgate on M’luru-B’luru NH held

Mangaluru: The Brahmarakootlu Tollgate Action Committee held a dharna near the tollgate on the Mangaluru-Bengaluru National Highway-75 at Brahmarkootlu in Bantwal taluk.Hundreds of protestors across political parties joined hands to unanimously demand that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) stop toll collection at Brahmarakootlu, which, according to the action committee, violates the distance norm.
Protestors said the tollgate functioned for the past 23 years "illegally" and no basic amenities, including service roads, were provided.Former minister B Ramanath Rai, honorary president of the action committee, said that the tollgate at Brahmarakootlu is illegal, and functions only to loot people. He demanded that the tollgate be closed, when new tollgates are set to open in other parts of the district."The place itself is not suitable for a tollgate. When all tollgates operate in spacious locations with vast areas and all basic amenities, the one at Brahmarakootlu is totally unscientific. We held a symbolic protest now. Soon, the protest will be held outside Bantwal taluk also, in association with like-minded organisations. We will continue this protest until the tollgate is closed," he added.The protestors urged the NHAI to take appropriate action, considering the rules related to toll collection on national highways.Convenor of the Action Committee Against Surathkal Tollgate, Muneer Katipalla, said that elected representatives in the region should direct the NHAI to hold a public hearing to explain works related to national highways. The authority should provide details of the works, including the development of underpasses, bypasses, tollgates, service roads, and other facilities, before the commencement of any project, he said, adding that no such meetings were held in the district in the past several years.Explaining how local residents are affected due to the tollgate, Muneer said that the exemption given to people in the locality stopped after the introduction of FASTag.He said the tollgate distance rules were being blatantly ignored in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. The distance from Talapady to the tollgate at Brahmarakootlu in BC Road was only 33 km. From Hejamadi tollgate in Udupi to Brahmarakootlu, it is 45 km, and to Talapady tollgate, it is 43 km.Action committee convenor Mohan Kumar also addressed the gathering.Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Holi wishes, messages and quotes !