Service buses go off road after clash erupts at Surathkal over toll hike

April 1, 2016

Mangaluru, Apr 1: In protest against the fresh hike in toll tariff on vehicles on Mangaluru-Udupi road and alleged highhandedness of tollgate personnel at Surathkal, service buses went off the road on Friday.

The sudden bus strike was the result of a brawl between a private bus conductor and tollgate personnel over tariff hike in the morning. However, express buses continued to operate on the road after repeated requests from regular commuters including students.

According to sources, a quarrel erupted at NIT-K tollgate at Surathkal when a private bus staff refused to pay hiked toll rate. Within a few minutes, it snowballed into a major clash and all the private buses on Udupi-Mangaluru road joined the agitation.

When a large number of people began to gather at the tollgate cops resorted to mild baton charge and brought the situation under control.

Two separate complaints have been lodged at jurisdictional Surathkal police station-one from tollgate personnel and the other from service bus employees. Police said that they are investigating the matter.

Toll rate hike
The toll rates at the NIT-K toll gate at Surathkal as well as the Brahmarakootlu toll gate plaza in the district went up on April 1. The monthly pass rates for both LMV and LCV categories have also gone up by Rs 25 and Rs 45 from Rs 1,510 and Rs 2,435 respectively.

Comments

now everywhere corporation charging parking charges even railway,malls,private property owners,... strict law should be implemented to curb this charges, after all we pay road tax, let govt should take this burden.

Karnataka Govt please give your attention to suratkal (mangalore) toll gate.....charges are heavy...burden to common people.....

And that too 2 KM before the toll gate while coming creating huge jam and more vehicles to pass after 12 am

When you buy lunch and forget to keep money for toll gate

my monthly expenses fueling 20k toll gate 8k subscription 3k5 airtime 6k dstv 6k phcn 5k gym 3k am i living or surviving in this country

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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