Toll issue: mixed response to Udupi district bandh call

There was a mixed response to the Udupi district bandh call given by various organisations on Monday to protest against the collection of toll at Hejmady and Sasthan.

There was tension at Padubidri, where members of the Nagarika Horata Samiti sat on the highway demanding that toll should not be collected. The police had to struggle to clear the highway and to deal with the protestors.

While private inter-district buses from Udupi to Mangaluru and Kundapur were affected, service buses to Karkala, Koppa, Shivamogga were unaffected. Passengers going towards Mangaluru were inconvenienced.

Abhilash, boat owner, was waiting for a bus at the Service Bus Stand here to Mangaluru. He wanted to visit the Fisheries Department office in Mangaluru. “Since there is no bus today, I will go tomorrow,” he said.

In Udupi city, private city buses and government low-floored city buses functioned as usual. Autorickshaws and taxi services were not affected. All shops and business establishments functioned as usual. There was tight police presence near the Clock Tower in the city and at vital points in the district.

Prohibitory orders are in force in Udupi taluk and in 2-km radius of National Highway 66 from Thekkatte to Shiroor in Udupi district.