Sorake joins protest against Hejamadi toll plaza
Udupi: The Nagarika Samithi Hejamadi held a protest meet on Saturday, June 25 to oppose the toll collection on Mangaluru-Udupi National Highway.
Addressing the protesters, former minister and Kaup MLA Vinay Kumar Sorake said that the residents of Padubidri have been facing various problems due to the toll plaza. “Navayuga Company, which handles the work on this part of the National Highway, should solve the problems before collecting the toll,” said Sorake demanding that the toll not be collected from residents of the district.
The company should also construct an underpass between Hejamadi and Palimaru Road, and provide proper compensation to the villagers whose lands have been acquired for the project.
“The highway is yet to be completed. We will call a meeting within a week in the Deputy Commissioner’s office. The company should start collecting toll only after all work is finished. If the company fails to clear the problems, as the MLA of the constituency, I will lead the protest,” he added.
Shasikanth Padubidri (ZP member), Gulam Mohammed (president of Nagarika Horata Samithi), Naveenchandra Shetty (presdient Kaup Block Congress), Abdul Aziz, Shanker Shetty and Shekar Hejamadi also addressed the protesters.
Later, a memorandum was submitted to Vinay Kumar Sorake, Aasadi (deputy Tahsildar, Udupi) and M VV Shrinivas (deputy Project Manager, Navayuga Construction Company).
Vishalakshi Putran (presdient Hejamadi GP), Sudhakar Karkera (vice president), Sheshgir Rao, Rolfi D’Costa, Madhava Sanil, Lalitha Salian, Durgraprasad Hegde, Swaraj Shetty, Padmanab Suvarna, Vasanth Devadiga, Kusuma Salian, Abbas Haji, Shekabba Kote, Shanker Shetty, Ramadas Shetty, Varada Salian, Ravi Palimar and others were present.