Udupi: A mixed response was received for the Udupi district bandh call by many organizations to protest against the toll collection at the toll plazas at Sasthana and Hejmady on National Highway 66 on Monday. Their demands were that the toll should not be collected until the widening of the highway of Hejmady-Kundapur was completed. 

Private inter-district buses from Udupi to Mangalur and Kundapur were affected which caused an inconvenience to the passengers , buses to Karkal, Koppa, Shivamogga were not affected. In Udupi city buses and government buses went as usual and autos and taxis were unaffected as well. Business and shops functioned as usual. Businesses and education organizations were closed in Kaup and Padubidri as there was a good response for the bandh call.

The protest which was held earlier in Hejmadi, Kaup, Katpadi, Padubidri, Ucchila, Yermal, under the guidance of Hejmadi Nagarika Horata Samiti blocked the road and toll gate at Hejmadi Bypass Junction for almost 15 minutes and raised slogans against the administration. 

They demanded that the deputy commissioner visit the spot. After a few exchanges with the police, the police convinced the protesters to move away from the highway and allow vehicles to move. The protesters however defied the police and were imposed on either sides of the highway. The police were unsuccessful in controlling the mob. 

President of the Udupi Taluk, Deviprasad Shetty addressed the protesters and said the Navayuga Company who worked to widen the highway on Hejmady-Kundapur stretch had not yet completed the construction of the roads. 

He said, vehicles with ‘KA 20’ registration numbers should be exempted from toll payment. Although prohibitory orders have been placed in Udupi Taluk, the protesters were not deterred. 

Finally Udupi Tahsildar Maheshchandra arrived at the spot and assured the protesters that collection of toll will not be done on local vehicles with ‘KA 20’ registration numbers, and the protesters agreed to leave from Hejmadi and Gundmi.