Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary announced that, from 1 November, residents living no more than 20 km from any national highway toll plaza will be eligible for a reduced‑price annual FASTag pass. The directive targets commuters on NH‑66, where the MP said toll operators often charge the same rate to locals and long‑distance travellers.
The announcement came during a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s auditorium in Rajathadri, Manipal, where officials reviewed a spike in accidents along the coastal stretch, especially at Kota, Padubidri, Tekkatte and other hotspots. Poojary urged the National Highways Authority of India and the private toll contractors to adopt scientific road‑design standards, maintain the pavement diligently and keep traffic flowing safely.
He warned that failure to meet contractual maintenance obligations could trigger legal action against the parties responsible for any future mishap. The MP highlighted that 22 accident‑prone black spots have already been identified and ordered immediate installation of streetlights, signboards, barricades and blinkers at those locations.
In addition to the FASTag discount, Poojary gave the green light to complete the Ambagilu‑LVT service road, noting that tree‑clearing and drainage work have begun. He also called for faster execution of similar service‑road projects at Nittoor, Tekkatte, Kumbhashi and other points, insisting that quality not be compromised.
Addressing night‑time safety, the MP asked MESCOM and NHAI to keep the lights functional at the Kalyanpur‑Santhekatte underpass. He also suggested scrapping the pending skywalk at Tenka Yermal, where local opposition is strong, and instead constructing pedestrian overpasses at high‑traffic zones such as Ambagilu and near Mahesh Hospital in Brahmavar.
Image: mangalorean.com
📰 Source: Mangalorean News