Mangaluru: Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister U T Khader has urged the Union government to pay the due amount of ‘Ircon International Ltd.’ immediately so that the existing problem with toll collection at NITK Surathkal toll plaza is permanently solved.
Speaking about the series of protests to remove the toll plaza near NITK, Suratkal and exemption from toll fee for the local vehicles, Khader said the NITK Suratkal toll plaza was set up as the central government had not paid the balance amount to Ircon International Ltd. which had taken the responsibility of forming a national highway between B C Road and Suratkal. As they need to receive a huge amount from the central government, toll plaza was set up near NITK Suratkal, he added.
“As another contract company Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd (NECL) was entrusted with the highway work between Thalapady and Hejamady, another toll plaza was set up near Hejamady. Now, toll collection is going on in two locations within a distance of only 10 km. Even the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials admit that the NITK, Suratkal toll plaza is completely unscientific. However, no measures were taken either to remove toll plaza or to merge it with Hejamady,” he said.
“Khader said that the officials of NHAI should follow the guidelines of the concession agreement in favour of the local people. Despite the rule, the contract company is collecting toll fee for the local vehicles too. If the union government does not come up with a permanent solution, a massive protest will be staged in the coming days, Khader cautioned.
