Udupi: With January 1 deadline for the mandatory use of FASTag at toll plazas across India loomin, Udupi Mla K Raghupati Bhat on Wednesday opposed the move by ministry of road transpot and highways (MoRTH).

He demanded that Navayug Udupi Tooway Pvt Ltd, concessionaire, honour an earlier agreement to allow local vehicles within 5 km of Sasthan and Hejamandi toll plazas to cross it without any charge.

Expressing surprise at the statement of DC G Jagadeesha, who on Tuesday sought cooperation of all stakeholders for the smooth implementation of the MoRTH order, Bhat told reporters that he has spoken to Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje and other MLAs in the district about this,. "NUTPL had earlier agreed that the free passage for locals will continue the project in its entirety," he said.

Demanding that the concessionaire stick to this agreement, Bhat said if they are allowed to collect toll from all, including locals there is every possibility that they may not complete the pending flyover work at Shastri Circle in Kundapur and the remaining portion of four-laning at Padubidri. "These delays could well get trolled like the delay in the construction of flyover at Pumpwell," Bhat said.

Referring to the presence of Hindi-Speaking youth manning toll booths at both places, Bhat demanded that the concessionaire appoint locals there.

Asserting that he has nothing against youths from north India earning their livelihood here, Bhat said their lack of knowledge about locals often lead to misunderstanding.

Pointing that all these issues have been discussed at various fora, including elected bodies like zilla panchayat, Bhat said a final decision should be left to District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committees (DISHA) meeting that the MP will chair on January 12. Agreeing that it was an MoRTH decision, BHat said the administration should not rush to implement the same without addressing local concerns.