MANGALURU: Local vehicles with 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 plaza on February 28.The toll collection from local vehicles was stopped at Surathkal following a series of protests held by various political parties and organisations.The district administration had directed the toll gate contractors to stop toll collection from local vehicles few months ago. However, the authorities have decided to collect toll from local vehicles from March 1.Political parties and various organisations are gearing up to hold a 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 organised 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 demands when the action committee held an 11-day protest in October last year. However, instead of stopping the toll collection, the toll gate 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.District minister UT Khader said he will convene a meeting of NHAI officials to discuss about Surathkal toll gate issue through chief secretary in Bengaluru soon.“The state government cannot take a decision on NH toll gates. Only Parliament can modify rules related to NHAI. I will convene a meeting in Benglauru soon,” he added.

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