Mangalore : Suratkal town observed a bundh on March 27, Wednesday in protest against the decision of the authorities to go ahead with the construction of a tollgate near NITK Suratkal.  The Suratkal Nagarika Samithi and the Anti-Tollgate Action Committee also took out a huge rally and staged a NH block agitation in front of the NITK Campus  as part of the protest. Hundreds of people took part in the protest.It may be recalled here that there  has been severe opposition to the tollgate construction which has been initiated by the NHAI’s contracting agency IRCON.

Addressing the protestors, Subhaschandra Shetty, President of the Nagarika  Samithi, said there was no question of permitting the construction of the tollgate. He said the tollgate was being constructed illegally as rules do not allow construction of a tollgate in MCC limits.

Revathi Putran, Corporator of the area who also spoke, said  the tollgate construction will not be allow. She said the MCC had resolved against the tollgate construction long back.

TN Ramesh of Nagarika Samithi also spoke on the occasion.  Corporators Pratibha Kulai, Ashok Shetty, Sumitra,  office bearers of Autorickshaw Drivers Association, Tourist Car Drivers Owners Association and several others took part in the protest.