Mangaluru: The national highway authority of India on Thursday issued a circular revising the rates of tollgate at Hejamady due to the merger of the Surathkal tollgate with the Hejamady tollgate.

"Based on the continuous request/demand by the Government of Karnataka, local public/VIP references, the Competent Authority has accorded Approval for the merger of Surathkal Toll plaza @ Km. 358.042 (near NITK, Campus on NH-66) of New Mangalore Port Road Connectivity with adjacent Hejamadi Toll Plaza @ Km. 347.180 of NH-66 falling under the BOT(Toll) project of Concessionaire, M/s Navayuga Udupi Tollway Pvt. Ltd. Accordingly, the user fee (toll) for Surathkal toll plaza will now be charged at Hejamadi Toll plaza by adding toll fee for both the stretches and present user fee rates." The circular added.

The NHAI also stated there might be chances of a law and order situation at the Hejamady tollgate and urged the authorities to ensure that no untoward incident takes place.

In view of the above facts, it is requested to provide necessary District Administration assistance/support including Police Protection. Please ensure that there will not be any law & order issues at Hejamadi Toll Plaza" the circular further read.

A car was being charged Rs. 60 for a one-way pass at the Surathkal toll gate and it was being charged Rs. 40 at the Hejamady toll gate. After the latest circular, a collective Rs. 100 will be charged for a car at the Hejamady toll gate for a single trip. Similarly, buses and trucks (two axles) were being charged Rs. 210 at the Surathkal toll gate and Rs. 145 at the Hejamady toll gate which is now revised to Rs. 355.

Heavy construction machinery, Earth Moving Equipment, and MultiAxle vehicles were being charged Rs. 325 at the Surathkal toll while being charged Rs. 225 at the Hejamady toll, with the issuance of the circular it is now revised to Rs. 550 at the Hejamady toll gate.

Light commercial and light goods vehicles were being charged Rs. 100 at the Surathkal toll and Rs. 70 at the Hejamady toll which has now been revised to Rs. 170 at the Hejamady toll gate.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Bengaluru and neighbouring Chikkaballapura district for the Lok Sabha poll campaign on Saturday.

He will address mega rallies both in Bengaluru and Chikkaballapura.

Modi held mega rallies in Kalaburagi and Shivamogga last month. On April 14, he addressed a rally in Mysuru, during which he shared the dais with JD(S) patriarch and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, and later held a roadshow in Mangaluru.

According to the state BJP, the Prime Minister is scheduled to address a mega public meeting at Chokkahalli village in Chikkaballapura district at 2 PM, covering Chikkballapur and Kolar Lok Sabha constituencies, and later at 4 PM he will participate in a massive rally in Bengaluru's palace ground, covering Bangalore North, Bangalore South, Bangalore Central and Bangalore Rural segments.

Bangalore -North, South and Central have been BJP's bastions, while Rural is represented by Congress' D K Suresh, brother of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar.

Former Minister K Sudhakar is the BJP candidate from Chikkballapur, its alliance partner JD(S) has fielded M Mallesh Babu from Kolar Lok Sabha segment.

BJP's sitting MPs Tejasvi Surya and P C Mohan are candidates from Bangalore South and Central respectively. Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje is in the fray from Bangalore North. In Bangalore Rural Deve Gowda's son-in-law and eminent cardiologist Dr C N Manjunath is contesting on a BJP ticket as per the arrangement with alliance partner JD(S).

Karnataka is going for polls in two phases. While14 Lok Sabha segments in the southern part of the state are going for election on April 26, in the second phase voting for the northern districts will be held on May 7.