Protest to be held against Belman Tollgate on October 7
Udupi: The villagers of Belman have decided to hold a mass protest against the proposed construction of the Toll Gate in Belman on Sunday, October 7 said N Suhas Hegde president of the committee. He was speaking at a press meet held at the press club on Saturday, October 6.
It is very unfortunate that the state government has taken a hasty decision to construct a Tollgate near the Government Junior College, Belman on the state highway that connects Padubidri and Karkala giving a shock to the people of Belman and neighbouring villages. Keeping the entire process in secret the Government has tendered the contract to M/S Mithra Info Solutions directing them to start Collecting toll w.e.f 15 October 2018. Hence it is decided to protest this heinous act of exploitation by the Government. In this regard, a huge protest march is organized with 27 neighbouring villages of Belman voluntarily being supported by all religious centres, vehicle owners association, International social organizations, Bus owners associations, Auto Unions, various local organizations, elected representatives and others.
It has been four years since the construction of the road has completed. Till recently there was no such proposal to construct a toll gate. This road is mostly frequented by local vehicles. The tourist and outside vehicles are rarely seen plying on this road. This is nothing but an attempt to exploit the poor people of the villages.
Moreover, this is going to be the first ever built Tollgate on a State Highway. Considering the above facts the government should immediately cancel the above tender and no such tolls should be collected. Keeping this demand the people of Belman are organizing a huge protest march on Sunday, October 7 at 9:30 am. Over 10000 people from all the corners of the 27 villages around Belman are expected to join the protest march, he said.
Sharath Shetty Kinnigoli, Hariprasad Nandalike, Shashidhar Shetty Nandalike Sarvajna Tantri and others were present.