Toll in Hejamadi service road: Bus drivers resort to lightning protest
Padubidri, September 2: Drivers of service buses opposed the toll gate set up for the Hejamadi old MBC road and resorted to lightning protest for two hours obstructing the vehicular movement on the road here on Sunday.
Navayug Company has started collecting toll fee near Hejamadi Bastipadu stadium on national highway 66. In order to avoid the toll fee, majority of vehicles are plying on old MBC road. Knowing this, the company has again started to collect toll fee on service road near Hejamadi Guddeangadi. It started to collect the toll fee on Saturday. But on Sunday morning, all service bus drivers and other vehicles stopped their vehicles near toll gate suddenly and staged protest which lasts for more than two hours. This has caused inconvenience to the passengers.
Later, the police rushed to the spot and held discussions with the company to allow the service buses free for two days. It was also decided to hold discussion after two days.
Locals protest
Later, local residents gathered on the spot and opposed the toll fee collection on old BMC road. Without giving any prior information and preparation, the company has started collecting fee. This has caused inconvenience to the local residents. Without meeting the demands of the gram panchayat, the company has suddenly started collecting the fee which is not fair. The Deputy Commissioner would hold a meeting in the end of the month. Till then, the company should restrain from collecting fee, they demanded.
As the company started collecting fee at Hejamadi national highway, the number of vehicles plying on the service road has increased causing damage to the road and a bridge. So, it was a nice decision to construct toll plaza, opined others.
As the local buses, school buses and goods vehicles come to Hejamadi, the toll plaza would be a burden for them. So, those vehicles should be given relaxation from toll fee, demand some others.
Hejamadi service road is belonging to PWD and the Navayug company has no right to collect toll fee on that road, said agitators.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Former minister C M Ibrahim announces to launch new regional party for Karnataka
Kalaburagi: Two years after being expelled from the Janata Dal (Secular), former minister C.M. Ibrahim has announced that he will launch a new regional political party in Karnataka on January 24, reported Deccan Herald.
Speaking at a meeting organised by the Nava Karnataka Nirmana Andolana in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Ibrahim confirmed the birth of the new party.
The 77-year-old politician stated he would soon be meeting with other like-minded individuals to choose a symbol for the party.
ALSO READ: Veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa laid to rest with full state honours
Ibrahim emphasised that the organisation would be guided by the principles of 12th-century social reformer Basavanna and the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar.
A veteran politician, Ibrahim served as Union Civil Aviation Minister during the tenure of H.D. Deve Gowda as Prime Minister and later headed the Karnataka unit of the Janata Dal (Secular). He was expelled from the JD(S) in 2023 on charges of anti-party activities.
His exit from the party followed sharp differences over the JD(S) decision to ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). As the then state president of the JD(S), Ibrahim had publicly criticised the alliance, claiming it was finalised without his knowledge. He had also reportedly convened meetings of his supporters and expressed support for the INDIA bloc.
