[Samurai]

Originally Posted by Ashtoncastelino

Finally the toll closure has been announced officially by the MP yesterday.

These statements can't be trusted until the toll is actually dismantled. We have seen such promises before.

[skanchan95]

Mangaluru: Surathkal toll gate withdrawn - Will motorists cough up higher charges at Hejamady?

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SS)

Mangaluru, Nov 15: Following a long-running campaign from the public and like-minded organisations, the Surathkal toll gate has stopped collecting toll charges.

However, in a notification dated November 11, the Union Surface Transport and Highways ministry has directed Navayuga Company to collect the toll charges at Hejamady henceforth. Motorists will now have to pay toll charges at Hejamady toll gate on NH-66 after traversing a distance of 18.36 kilometres from Nanthuru-Surathkal and on NH-75 from Nanthuru Junction to Padil.

The Centre has withdrawn the collection of toll charges only at Mukka but has not stopped collecting tolls on the highway. The notification does not mention removal (cancellation) of toll gate or merger of toll gates.

According to information available as per the gazette notification some more aspects are likely to be added. The final notification is likely to be published within a day or two.

Only after the Centre's gazette notification is received, the deputy commissioner is likely to issue an order on collection of toll charges. The toll plaza at Mukka will cease to exist only after the notification is received, it is learnt.

According to NHAI sources, the collection of toll charges at Mukka will be merged with the Hejamady toll gate.

The apparent closure of the Surathkal Toll gate is not as straightforward as it looks. It is highly likely that the toll charges at the Hejmady toll plaza will be doubled or aleast increased significantly to "compensate" the parties involved.

[Ashtoncastelino]

Originally Posted by skanchan95

The apparent closure of the Surathkal Toll gate is not as straightforward as it looks. It is highly likely that the toll charges at the Hejmady toll plaza will be doubled or aleast increased significantly to "compensate" the parties involved.

Wow again the loosers are the public. The Mangalore vehicles would have to pay more at Hejamadi due to suratkal closing. Protest backfired Anyone here knows the route to bypass the Hejamadi toll ?

Regards
Ashton Castelino

[Shamegz]

The same local news agency published this today :
https://daijiworld.com/news/newsDisplay?newsID=1020226

Mangaluru, Nov 16: As soon as the union ministry of land transport and highways took out notification to stop toll collection at Surathkal toll gate, a proposal to revise the toll charges at Hejmady toll gate is sent to the ministry.

The proposal is sent from regional office of the highway authority to the union ministry. This involved the revision or hiking of toll charges for various vehicles at Hejmady toll gate.

Once the approval for the revised toll fee proposal will be given by the union ministry in Delhi, the state government or Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner (DC) will take out official order for the closure of NITK toll gate.

DC Ravikumar M R held a discussion in this regard with the officials of NHAI on Tuesday.

This is nothing short of absurd :
1.Mangalore vehicle had free pass at Surathkal toll plaza, now after protest pay the fee at hejamady toll plaza
2.Toll closure was done due to nearing Election and the protest too was part of election.

[Ashtoncastelino]

Hejamady toll price to be Hiked from December 1 !

Quoting a Local news Agency article published today:

One way
Car, jeep, van or light motor vehicle
Rs 60 at Surathkal and Rs 40 at Hejamady, revised toll fee at Hejamady Rs 100

Two way
Car, jeep, van or light motor vehicle
Rs 90 at Surathkal and Rs 65 at Hejamady, revised toll fee at Hejamady Rs 155.

Imagine all the sleepless nights and energy wasted by the protesters for the closure of Suratkal toll only to shoot their own leg at the end. Eventually these cunning toll folks will find a way to make money. Main people who will feel the pinch are the KA19 Folks who earlier had to pay just Rs65 for two way trip at Hejamady. Sad State of affair.

Attaching the news Article for reference.
https://www.daijiworld.com/news/news...newsID=1022969

Regards
Ashton Castelino

[Samurai]

Well, I have been zipping up and down NH66 since a week. Surathkal toll is inactive now. It is not even manned. We can just zoom through. Meanwhile Hejamady toll is still on the old rate 40+25 for two-way travel. I crossed Hejamady toll 6 times today.

Will it remain so...? I hope so.

[skanchan95]

Originally Posted by Ashtoncastelino

Main people who will feel the pinch are the KA19 Folks who earlier had to pay just Rs65 for two way trip at Hejamady. Sad State of affair.

The charges are still the same at Hejamady Toll Gate so far. I drove from Surathkal to Muloor & back yesterday and was charged Rs 40 and Rs 25 at Hejamady toll gate.



The Surathkal toll gate is not manned and one can drive through. The toll gate has not been dismantled yet and the lights on the roof were on.

[skanchan95]

Suratkal tollgate to re-open? The road repair work that's been going on around the tollgate without dismantling the tollgate structure and lanes seems to suggest so.

Link

Mangaluru: Horata Samithi visits closed Surathkal toll gate, suspects it to re-open
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Aug 31: The Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samithi led by its president Muneer Katipalla visited the closed Surathkal toll gate on Thursday August 31. He said that he suspects it to re-open after works have been undertaken pertaining to the same.

Nine months ago, Surathkal toll gate was shut down after severe protest by the Samithi and locals. There was also a demand to remove the toll gate structure at the spot which was causing danger to the motorists. Several accidents were reported due to potholes in the surroundings of the toll gate.

Speaking to media, Muneer Katipalla said, “After seven years of protest by the Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samithi and locals, the Surathkal toll gate was shut down, nine months ago. After the closure, the Surathkal toll gate structure was not removed. It was in a dilapidated situation and on the verge of collapsing. The road here was filled with potholes leading to several accidents. Further, there were no sign boards at toll gate which led to accidents during the night.

“Now the road has been concretized which is a good sign. But the development works like retaining the lines and installing new pillars force one to suspect that Surathkal toll gate may re-open again. The Toll Gate Virodhi Horata Samithi will never allow the re-opening of Surathkal toll gate,” he said.

[am1m]

Went past this defunct toll gate last week. Doesn't seem like there are any signs of re-opening, but they haven't dismantled the structures yet either.

[srvm]

Originally Posted by am1m

Went past this defunct toll gate last week. Doesn't seem like there are any signs of re-opening, but they haven't dismantled the structures yet either.

Looks like dismantling of the toll plaza has finally started. Saw this news today:

https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...le67737210.ece

[skanchan95]

The dilapidated structure of the the Surathkal toll gate has finally been removed. The road is now clear.