Thousands seek closure of tollgate in Surathkal

MANGALURU: Thousands of commuters and motorists marched towards the tollgate at Surathkal on National Highway-66, near here, on Tuesday, demanding that National Highways Authority of India immediately scrap toll collection at the plaza.
At least 130 protesters, including political party activists and members of Action Committee Against Surathkal Toll Gate, were detained by Mangaluru City police, who had strengthened security near the tollgate as like-minded organisations and political parties extended their support to the protest.
The Surathkal tollgate on the busy Mangaluru-Mumbai highway was established in 2015 as a temporary measure and sources said that this was to be closed down once Hejmadi tollgate in neighbouring Udupi district was set up.
Even after Hejmadi tollgate started in 2019, both tollgates - located just 10km apart and less than 30km from Mangaluru - continued to function leading to protests over the years. The road sees heavy traffic as it leads on to Udupi, Kundapur, Karwar and Goa. A commuter has to pay Rs 55 to pass through Surathkal plaza, which comes under Mangaluru City Corporation limits.
In effect, a motorist passing through Talapady, Surathal and Hejmadi - all in a 42km span and around Mangaluru - ends up paying toll at three plazas. For instance, a car user has to cough up Rs 225 every day if he were to do a round trip of these three plazas. Personnel from City Armed Reserve and KSRP were deployed near the Surathkal tollgate from Monday, a day ahead of Tuesday's protest. Congress, AAP and CPM leaders led the protest. When the protesters tried to enter the tollbooth, a heated argument broke out with police. It was alleged that many protesters were injured. While Action Committee convener Muneer Katipalla and 50 others were taken to the Mangaluru South police station, many were detained at Bantara Bhavana in Surathkal and other places in the city.
Advocate R Padmaraj said the tollgate has been functioning "illegally" for the past six years. "People's representatives, including MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and MLAs, have been asserting that the tollgate at Surathkal is illegal, but they are making just empty promises of vacating the same," he said.