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Despite ongoing agitation, Suratkal tollgate given to new contractor

Surathkal: Although the strike seeking to dismantle the tollgate at Suratkal has picked up momentum, the expectation that the tollgate would be merged with the one at Hejamady may have been trounced. A new company has been granted the tender to operate Surathkal tollgate on Wednesday October 24th.

The agitation being carried out by the anti tollgate committee in the meantime, entered fourth day on Thursday. Following instructions from the deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, assistant commissioner here, Ravichandra Nayak, reached the spot and held talks with the representatives of the agitators.

The former MLA Vijayakumar Shetty and Muneer Katipalla pointed out to the assistant commissioner about the reality and history behind this tollgate. They explained that, first of all illegal to have set up the tollgate within the city limits, and that the minimum gap as per stipulations between two tollgates has not been maintained as Hejamady tollgate is located just ten kilometres away from here.

They informed that, although the state government had, during January last, recommended for the merger of Hejamady tollgate and Suratkal tollgate the highway authority and union department for roads and highways has so far not approve it. They also assured that they were determined to continue their fight till the tollgate is closed.

Assistant commissioner Ravichanfra Nayak responded and informed them that the documents about the tollgate and demand for scrapping it will be verified and forwarded to the state government through the deputy commissioner. It will also be brought to the notice of the government that the tollgate has been stationed within the city corporation limits and toll charges are being collected.

Former deputy mayor, Purushotham Chitrapur and T N Ramesh, in the meanwhile, sought resignation of MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, for having backtracked from his assurance to close this tollgate.