‘Toll’ takes a toll on local people in Chaulagere, collection halted for now

Hassan: There has been a temporary halt to toll collection at the new tollgate near Chaulagere.

A meeting of toll officers and leaders of pro-Kannada organizations held at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Tuesday under the chairmanship of District Magistrate C. Satyabhama discussed all the developments in this regard.

During this meeting, the DC instructed the toll supervisors to not collect toll until further orders. “I have written to the Central government in this regard. We will also review the agreement copy together. Then we will announce our decision,” she said. 

The DC warned that no toll should be collected from any vehicles plying on this route until then.

In a previous meeting held in this regard, there was a demand that locals be given a “discount” on toll collected on National Highway 75. In addition, the locals and organization leaders explained their grievances to the District Collector.

Responding to this, the DC assured them that appropriate facilities would be provided to the locals.

The next few weeks will be crucial as it remains to be seen how sincerely the orders of the DC are followed in this respect.

Speaking about the matter to Hassan Today, the leaders of the protesting pro-Kannada organization said that their main demand was to ensure that toll is not collected from locals as they commute everyday using the road for their daily business. “It is unfair for the government to tax people every day for their survival,” they said.

District Superintendent of Police, Mohammad Sujitha, former minister H.K. Kumaraswamy, Karnataka Rakshana Vedike District President Satish Patel and toll officials were present during the meeting.