Bhatkal: Uttara Kannada district in-charge minister Mankal Vaidya, who rushed from Bengaluru to Bhatkal a few days ago, instructed the Deputy Commissioner to close the toll gates on the Shiroor-Bhatkal stretch of National Highway 66. This was a welcome development for residents of Bhatkal, who had long been calling for an end to this unfair practice.

The minister's decision to close the toll gates was met with a positive response from residents, who said that it was a significant accomplishment. They urged the minister to ensure that the highway is completed and brought up to standard as soon as possible.

The Shiroor toll gate, which is 11 km from Bhatkal town, has been a source of great frustration for residents, who say that they are being forced to pay to use a highway that is still under construction. 

Although it has been almost two years since the four-lane National Highway 66 was inaugurated, the work from Bhatkal Tenginagundi Cross to Purvarga is still incomplete. Neither the service road has been constructed nor has any proper facility for water drainage been provided on the sides of the highway.

The national highway from Bhatkal's Rangin Katta to Mankuli is in a state of disrepair. Due to the rain, potholes form in the middle of the highway, and as soon as it rains, all the rainwater starts flowing on the highway. It is incomprehensible why the people of Bhatkal, who regularly travel on such a highway, should have to pay the toll fee.

It seems that the IRB company may have taken the construction of the national highway in Uttara Kannada district, including Bhatkal, only to loot the contract. The entire stone hill has been excavated to collect gravel for road widening. For the next 15-20 years, the IRB company will have enough rock and stone quarries in its custody, which could potentially earn them crores of rupees. However, the people of Bhatkal have not protested or fought a legal battle against the company, unlike what they did during the construction of Nice Road in Bengaluru.

The legal battle has not progressed significantly. A handful of people have tried to save their personal property or get more compensation, but there has never been a major struggle. In some places, there was a struggle, but it was limited to underpasses and bypasses. It is also surprising that neither the Highway Authority nor the IRB Company paid any attention to the struggle of the people.

During the last decade, none of the MLAs or Ministers of the district have shown any interest in taking up a large-scale struggle against the IRB disturbances. Despite overcoming many hurdles, no voice was raised. The National Highway Authority approved the IRB to collect toll fees years ago, even though they realized the problems the highway was causing to the people and that the work was not being completed.

At this stage, Mankal Vaidya, who belongs to Bhatkal and took charge of the district as the in-charge minister a few days ago, warned of banning the toll fees after seeing the state of the highway and the anger of the people.

When he warned of stopping the toll fees, people also know that it is not easy. However, no one is ready to accept the state of the four-lane highway in its current condition. It was necessary to find a way to get rid of the "national highway epidemic." The people also came up with this demand. Now it is necessary for the National Highway Authority and the IRB company to face the anger of the people. They only have one option left: to improve the national highway and meet the public demands. If that is not possible, they should stop collecting tolls.