Write Comment     |     E-Mail To a Friend     |     Facebook     |     Twitter     |     Print

Udupi : The district administration has no role or supporting to Navyuga construction company of NH 66 and the stand of the district administration in relate to the toll collection would be very clear, said Deputy Commissioner T Venkatesh on Tuesday, 14^th February 2017.

 In his meeting with media persons at DC office, Rajathadhri Manipal, he said that if any problems occurred it would be duty of the district administration to provide police protection, other wise liable to face court .

He has received a memorandum from Navyaga Company that the state government have an agreement which states that in case any problem while collecting toll, the district administration should provide police protection

During in his clarification, he said that Kota Srinivas Poojary MLC gave memorandum on the toll collection issue on 28^th January. In relation to the toll collection at Hejmady and Sasthan since 28^th January various organizations protested against the toll collection in the sense that the work of National Highway not completed overall. The district administration written letters to contractors project officials. On 30^th January DC T Venkatesh was participated meeting with chief minister in this regard. On 3^rd February , Shobha Karandleje MP written letter to Nithin Gadkari Union Minister. Along w                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ith Pramod Madhwaraj in regard to the toll collection, there was meeting held and various points discussed. On 9^th February, the secretary in relate to PWD told us to go forward to collect the toll from midnight of 9^th February, 2017.

He said that the district administration has no order to cancel the toll collection. It should provide police protection when problems occurred during the collection of toll. The reduction of toll nor full collection will depend on them, but not by district administration.

He said that nearly 65.5 km has been completed on Hejamady Kundapur stretch and there is still 3.2km stretch in Padunbidri, 2.4km in Udupi Karavali bypass and only 6.4 km yet to complete. In Kundapur the company has constructed a flyover as per the demands of the public. Even in Padubidri the project work also changed from bypass and so the acquiring land delayed. There will be 30.9 km stretch of service road and out of than 14.5 km service road completed. Navyuga company will not collect the toll free from K 20 vehicles till February 25. In Surathkal there is no free toll pass for local vehicles, he said.

As the protest has been escalating against the collection of the toll, Chief Secretary of the state will be conveying a meeting with the NHAI and other concerned and discuss the issue. the district in charge minister has conveyed the message of the chief secretary to holding a meeting to the district administration.

He said that the state government has announced Udupi district as a drought hit due to lack of sufficient rainfall. The government has sanctioned Rs. 2 crore as relief fund. Meanwhile the state government has banned digging of borewell in all the 30 drought hit districts. Now it has given special consideration to Udupi and D.K. districts. The administration is distributing drinking water with the help of tankers, he said.

Additional DC Anuradha and other officials were present.