Kota Bandh against Toll Collection from Local Vehicles ends with Assurance from Dist Admin
Udupi: With the assurance to fulfill the demands, the Kota Zilla Panchayat constituency Bandh call under the leadership of Heddari Jagathi Samithi Sastan protest against the collection of toll from Local KA -20 vehicles has temporarily ended on December 7, evening in Sastan.
With the support of more than 130 organizations, protesters demanded that the Navyug Company will not collect toll from local vehicles. Religious and political leaders joined hands with the protesters and urged to fulfill demands of the locals. After continues efforts by the political leaders, the deputy commissioner organized a meeting with Navyug Company representatives at the Circuit House Udupi in the afternoon.
MP Shobha Karandlaje along with MLA Raghupathi Bhat, Haladi Srinivas Shetty and members of Heddari Horata Samithi attended a meeting with representatives of Navyug Company. The protesters and peoples representatives demanded the company to exempt KA-20 vehicles from paying the toll and also provide passes with a discount to tourist vehicles. Deputy Commissioner and District Police Superintendent also suggested giving exemption up to 5 km for whiteboard vehicles. The representative of Navyug Company denied to fulfill the demands and the meeting ended without taking any decisions. When the company refused to fulfill the demands, the MLA’s and protesters walked out of the meeting.
Later the Deputy Commissioner and SP held a separate meeting with representatives of Navyug Company and asked for some more time before arriving at a final decision.
After assurance from the DC and SP the protesters and peoples representatives returned to the protest venue and tried to pacify the protesters. Finally, the district administration conveyed the final decision through the Additional SP to MP Shobha Karandlaje.
Addressing the protesters Shobha Karandlaje said, “The company has agreed to give exemption to whiteboard vehicles from Mabukala to Karikalkatte, up to Kota Gram Panchayat limits. Yellow board vehicles should provide their vehicle details through the local gram panchayat to the superintendent of Police who has taken the responsibility to give an exemption for yellow board vehicles”.
MP Shobha Further said, “During the meeting, Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat demanded passes with a discount for Taxis of in the district. Neither the district administration nor the Navayuga Company has responded to Bhat’s demand. The taxi men’s association has decided to hold a protest in Hejamadi and Sastan toll plaza in this regard. As Member of Parliament I will join in the protest”, she said.
Later protesters along with MP and MLA’s took a march to the Toll Plaza and picketed on the highway. The police then took all the protesters including MP Shobha Karandlaje and MLA Raghupathi Bhat into custody and later released them.