BJP launches agitation against proposed toll plaza on Karkala – Padubidri highway

coastaldigest.com web desk

October 6, 2018

Udupi, Oct 6: Activists of Bharatiya Janata Party led by Karkala MLA VSunil Kumar staged a protest against the proposed toll plaza on Karkala - Padubidri State Highway Number 1 at Belman in Karkala taluk on Friday.

Belman is a junction, where roads coming from Shirva, Karkala- Nitte, Mundkur and Padubidri meet. The people from the surrounding villages visit Belman often for different reasons. They fear that they would have to pay toll every time they drive to Belman and return.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Kumar said there was no point in the Public Works Department deciding to collect toll from vehicles at Belman. The toll plaza was expected to come up near the Government Pre-University College at Belman on the Karkala- Padubidiri State Highway and become functional from October 15.

A vehicle coming from Mangaluru to the educational hub of Nitte in Udupi district would have to pay toll at three places – Surathkal, Hejmady, and at the proposed toll gate at Belman, he said.

The foundation stone for the four-laning of the 28-km Padubidri– Karkala stretch of the State Highway Number 1 was taken up in 2012, when the BJP was in power.

The entire amount for the construction of this stretch had been borne by the State government. “How then can toll be imposed on vehicles on this stretch? The government is imposing toll to shore up revenues as its exchequer is empty. The government should withdraw its decision to collect toll here,” Mr. Kumar said.

Reshma Uday Shetty, Uday Kotian, Sumit Shetty, BJP Zilla Panchayat members, Malini J. Shetty, President of Karkala Taluk Panchayat, were among those present at the protest.

Meanwhile, voluntary organizations from 27 villages surrounding Belman village will stage a protest on the same issue at Belman on October 7.

Comments

Dear Sunil, Speak at Vidana Soudah, protest infront of CM House. You are local representative in State Assembly.Stop double Game. Where is CongRSS.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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