Mohan Kuthar
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Feb 16: People who commute on city buses to Talapady are forced to walk for a kilometre ever since FASTag came into effect, with Bus Owners' Association and Navayug company, responsible for collecting toll fees near Talapady toll gate, having failed to come to consensus over the fee.
On Sunday February 16, the bus commuters, and Bus Owners' Association members staged a protest in front of Talapady toll gate demanding Navayug to hold talks and figure a solution to the problem.
The issue started after FASTag was mandated near toll gates. The bus owners were informed that they had to pay toll and were asked to deposit Rs 15,000 for each bus, and a total of Rs 18 lac for 30 buses per annum as toll fee.
However, the Bus Owners Association expressed they were only able to pay Rs 4,100 for each bus. "Payment of excess toll fee will become a burden for the people who will commute," the bus owners said, adding that they would be forced to increase the ticket prices by Rs 3 and this would affect the poor.
A discussion was held at Ullal police station but the Bus Owners' Association and Navayug Company failed to come to any agreement.
After FASTag was implemented, there has been only one toll gate entry that allows cash payment. This has led to a long queue and badly affected the bus timings.
The bus owners are demanding that Navayug hold talks and comes to an agreement on toll fees and also open more toll gate entries allowing cash payment. However, as the authorities are evading the meeting, the buses have stopped crossing the toll gate, and drop the passengers near the toll gate before turning back. This has put the commuters in great inconvenience. People with children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, vendors with goods are struggling to walk. They are forced to cross the toll gate on foot and find commute on the other side of the toll gate.
The protest on Sunday was not fruitful as no official from Navayug attended. Ullal police were also called.
Gadinadu Rakshana Vedike president Siddque Talapaddy has asked the officials to come to a decision in the next two days. If passengers are put into inconvenience again, a massive protest will be held near the toll gate, he warned.
Bus Owners Association president Karim Nagathota, convener Satish Kudru, taluk panchayat president Sidiqque Kolangere among others were present.