Mangaluru, July 05: Lok Sabha Member Nalin Kumar directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) not to collect toll fee for all private vehicles having ‘KA 19’ registration number at Talapady till the Thokkottu over bridge construction work on National Highway 66 is completed.

After holding a meeting with the officials of the NHA and Navayuga company officials here on Thursday and inspecting the construction work of over-bridges at Pumpwell and Thokkottu and road work from Talapady to Surathkal, he told media persons that toll fee was not being collected for vehicles bearing KA 20 and KA 19 registration numbers at Hejamadi and NITK toll gates respectively. In the same way, toll fee should not be collected for private vehicles except commercial vehicles bearing KA 19 numbers at Talapady toll gate, he said.

The four-lane work of National highway from Talapady to Kundapura was going on for the last eight years. As the work of Pumpwell and Thokkottu over bridges was going on a snail’s pace, it was causing inconvenience to the people. Because of the unscientific works, there was service road and drainage problem. The work was delayed because of the personal problem of the Navayuga company which got the contract. Now, after repeated meetings, the contractor was directed to complete the work immediately and provide the time table of the work, he said.

Now, NHA officials and the contract company had promised of completing the Thokkottu over bridge work by December and Pumpwell over-bridge work by January. If they did not show any progress in the work within 15 days as per the time table given by them, it was planned to close the Talapady toll gate and stop collection of fee, he said.

It would require minimum 6-7 months to solve the problems. Before that, the authorities concerned were directed to widen the service roads near Nantur and two flyovers and clean the drainages. Already, he drew the attention of the NHA Ministry for the delay of the contractor and the company was slapped Rs 1.5 crore penalty for this reason. In spite of it, the company was not responding positively. But he has given them the last warning. If they failed, legal action would be taken against the company, he said.

NHA advisors Ajith Kumar Jain and Ravi Kumar, Navayuga chief project manager Shankar and others were present.



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New Delhi (PTI): Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has written to outgoing US Vice President Kamala Harris congratulating her on her spirited presidential campaign and said her unifying message of hope will continue to inspire many.

Harris lost to Donald Trump in the hotly-contested US presidential polls.

"I would like to congratulate you on your spirited Presidential campaign. Your unifying message of hope will continue to inspire many," Gandhi said in his letter to Harris.

Under the Biden administration, India and the United States have deepened cooperation on issues of global importance, the former Congress chief said.

"Our shared commitment to democratic values will continue to guide our friendship. As the Vice-President, your determination to bring people together and find common ground will be remembered," Gandhi said in his letter dated November 7.

"I wish you the very best on your future endeavours," he added.