Karwar: In a significant move, Mankal Vaidya, the district incharge minister of Uttara Kannada and Minister for Ports, Fisheries, and Inland Transport, has issued a directive to the Deputy Commissioner, Prabhuling Kavalikatti, to halt the collection of toll fees by the IRB company on the National Highway until the completion of its construction. Vaidya further instructed the DC to seek legal advice on this matter and subsequently take appropriate action.

Addressing the district officers in a review meeting held at the DC Hall, the minister expressed deep concern over the loss of numerous lives due to the negligence of the IRB company. He emphasized that these fatalities were not caused by accidents but were a result of the company's carelessness.

Minister Mankal Vaidya issued strict instructions to the IRB company's engineer, demanding immediate action on pending tasks. He firmly stated that if the company representatives were not present to contribute constructively, they should excuse themselves from the meeting.

During the meeting, Minister Mankal Vaidya requested the engineer from the IRB Company to provide an overview of the unfinished highway sections between Shirur and the Goa border. He also questioned the company's responsibility in the recent accident where two individuals lost their lives. The minister expressed disappointment that the company had not yet provided the promised compensation of Rs 100,000 per victim to their families. Highlighting the importance of uplifting the underprivileged, Minister Mankal Vaidya emphasized that taxi and auto drivers, who are predominantly from economically weaker backgrounds, should be exempted from toll charges. 

Minister Mankal Vaidya further instructed the DC to personally inspect the National Highway from Shirur to Goa and halt the IRB toll collection if the highway construction remained unfinished, based on his findings.