Mangaluru: After protests Surathkal toll plaza defers toll collection from local vehicles

coastaldigest.com web desk

February 28, 2019

Mangaluru, Feb 28: Following protests from locals and request from Member of Parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel, the contractor at the National Highway Authority of India's (NHAI) toll plaza at Surathkal has decided to defer collection of toll for local vehicles with registration number KA 19 (local vehicles).

Messrs Keshav Agarwal, the new firm operating the toll plaza in Surathkal since November 2018, had announced collection of toll from local vehicles from Friday.

The firm had said that it will incur a loss of ₹ 3 lakh per day if it did not collect toll from local vehicles.

Protests were held on Thursday near the Surathkal toll plaza and near the office of the Deputy Commissioner against the decision of the agency.

Convenor of Nagarika Horata Samiti, Surathkal, Muneer Katipalla, said that residents are firm on their demand for scrapping the toll plaza at Surathkal. The NHAI had decided to merge the toll plaza with the one in Hejamady and this has not been acted upon till date. “Till completion of this process, we do not want toll to be collected from local vehicles,” he said in his speech at the protest in Surathkal.

Chief Executive Officer of Panambur Beach Toursim Project Yatish Baikampady, president of Kanara Small Scale Industries Association Gaurav Hegde and others made the same demand during their protest near the office of the Deputy Commissioner.

After a meeting of Vaibhav Dange, private secretary to the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, with NHAI and other officials, Mr. Kateel told reporters here on Thurday that the Union government will take a decision in a month on closing down the toll gate at Surathkal.

“Till such time, no toll should be collected from local vehicles,” he said.

Regional Officer of NHAI, Bengaluru, R.K. Suryawanshi, said that there are complications in merging the NHAI toll plaza in Surathkal with the one in Hejmady as the two projects have been taken up by different companies.

“In the meeting on Thursday it was proposed to merge the Surathkal toll plaza with the NHAI toll plaza in Brahmarakudlu (near B.C. Road),” he added. Mr. Suryawanshi said that accordingly a proposal will be placed by the NHAI before the Union government, which will then take a decision.

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A Tragic End—Mortal Remains of Entrepreneur Mumtaz Ali Found In River

News Network

October 7,2024

Mangaluru, Oct 7: In a heartbreaking turn of events, the search for Mumtaz Ali, chairman of Misbah Group of Educational Institutions, ended with the discovery of his mortal remains in the Phalguni river near Kulur. The somber discovery came after an exhaustive search, leaving a community in shock and sorrow.

He is the younger brother of former MLA Mohuiddin Bawa and former MLC B M Farookh.

The incident has taken a deeply distressing turn with the filing of an FIR against six individuals, including a woman, who are accused of pushing Ali to a tragic end.

The accused allegedly blackmailed Ali, fabricating a story about his involvement in an illicit relationship with the woman. Reports suggest that they extorted Rs 50 lakh from Ali and were unrelenting, demanding an additional Rs 50 lakh from him, casting a shadow over his final days.

The complaint, lodged by Ali’s grieving brother, accuses these individuals of driving him to despair through relentless blackmail and false accusations, ultimately leading him to take the tragic step.

In the early hours of Sunday, Ali left his home at 3 am, heading towards Suratkal, perhaps seeking some solace. A minor accident occurred when his car collided with a private bus near MCF. Despite the mishap, he offered a heartfelt apology to the bus driver and conductor—a gesture that now echoes with the pain of his unspoken struggles. After the collision, Ali made a U-turn near Panambur circle, driving back towards Kulur bridge, where his journey came to a sorrowful end.

Ali’s last moments hold an even deeper sadness, as he left behind a voice message in Byari, naming an individual who had been tormenting him mentally. Sent to his daughter and a close friend, the message revealed the unbearable burden he was carrying, hinting at his final decision to end his suffering.

This tragic loss has left the community and his loved ones grappling with unanswered questions and a profound sense of grief. As the investigation unfolds, the memory of Mumtaz Ali lingers, a reminder of the silent battles that too often go unseen.

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