DC’s office calls meeting to discuss toll gate issue

DC’s office calls meeting to discuss toll gate issue

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 27, 2011: A press meet was held in the DC’s office on Nov 26 Saturday to discuss problems regarding toll gates along national highways throughout the district. 

Prashanth Gawasane, the director of the NH project, said that toll gates have to be mandatorily set up at Panambur and near the NIT-K, but three-wheelers and two-wheelers need not pay the toll.

In response, Yathish Baikampady, the public committee member, said that the regulations do not permit 2 toll gates within a distance of 60kms from each other, but in Bantwal a toll gate is set up at Brahmarakotlu although the NIT-K game is just 37.50kms away. He said that the public will not have any objection if the mandatory distance of 60kms is maintained. 

He also said that service roads ought to be provided wherever there are flyovers and selected road stretches lacking heavy traffic. Speaking further, he said that there are no bus bays at regular bus stops, no pedestrian crossing at bus stops, and no storm water drains, owing to which there is artificial flooding during the monsoons. He also said that service roads are not connected to highways in a proper manner.  

Owing to poor quality of roads, there are a number of accidents, he said, adding that the growth of shrubs on either side of the highway has led to a rise in criminal activities. 

He urged the authorities to get the highways cleaned up, install street lights, and complete pending work along service road embankments within a specific deadline. 

DC Dr. Channappa Gowda said that the problems will be solved at the earliest possible and that a meeting will soon be convened to get updates regarding the road work.