Hajj Ghar to come up in Mangalore?

January 3, 2012

Mangalore, January 3: Even as the Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday assured the construction of a Hajj Bhavan in Bangalore, Karnataka State Hajj Committee S Mohammed Ghouse Basha revealed that a well-equipped 'Hajj Ghar' may soon come up in Mangalore too.

Mr Basha said a few enthusiastic Muslim leaders in the coastal city have already identified two possible locations for the purpose and a final decision in this regard would be taken up at an important meeting scheduled to be held on January 13.

He said that Muslim leaders at a meeting held on January 1, in Mangalore, have expressed their willingness to purchase a land with the help of philanthropists and handover it to the government's Committee. “If it was realized, a Hajj Ghar would come up in Mangalore within a year”, he said.

Hajj Bhavan

The Chief Minister meanwhile assured a delegation led by former Minister for Minority Welfare and Wakf Mumtaz Ali Khan, that his government is ready to establish a Hajj Bhavan at a cost of Rs 40 lakh in Bangalore for the benefit of pilgrims.

He said that foundation stone for the proposed building would be laid before January 15 on 3.17 acres at Tirupenahalli at Yelahanka, and the work would be completed by the end of next year.

Muslim leaders discuss about construction of Hajj Ghar in Mangalore at a meeting held on January 1 (Photo: Ahmed Anwar)

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Mangaluru–Kasaragod bus fare rolled back after Kerala protests force NHAI to shut Arikkady toll plaza

coastaldigest.com news network

February 5,2026

Mangaluru: The KSRTC Mangaluru division has rolled back the fare hike on buses operating on the Mangaluru–Kasaragod route following the suspension of toll collection at the Arikkady toll plaza near Kumbala in Kasaragod district.

The fare revision had been implemented after the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) began toll collection at the Arikkady plaza on NH-66. As a result, fares for ordinary and Rajahamsa services were increased by ₹7 and ₹10, respectively, raising the bus fare from Mangaluru to Kasaragod from ₹81 to ₹88.

Senior Divisional Controller of KSRTC’s Mangaluru division, Rajesh Shetty, said the fares were reduced after toll collection at the Arikkady plaza was stopped. “The tollgate began operations on January 13, and the toll amount was deducted from the FASTag accounts of KSRTC buses operating on the route. Following an order from the central government to suspend toll collection, KSRTC has also withdrawn the additional fare with immediate effect,” he said.

At present, vehicles travelling on the Mangaluru–Kasaragod route pay toll only at the Talapady toll plaza. The toll for light motor vehicles (LMVs) at Talapady is ₹80 for a same-day return, while heavy vehicles, including buses, are charged ₹250. At Arikkady, the toll rates were ₹130 for LMVs (same-day return) and ₹450 for buses.

Protests against Arikkady toll plaza

The Arikkady toll plaza witnessed widespread protests from January 12, the day toll collection commenced. On the second day, an action committee led by Manjeshwar MLA A K M Ashraf launched an indefinite protest at the site. Except for the BJP, leaders and workers of most major political parties participated in the agitation.

On the night of January 14, a large number of protesters gathered at the plaza and vandalised property, following which authorities temporarily suspended toll operations. The BJP later also expressed opposition to the toll plaza and criticised NHAI’s decision.

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