Boat race evokes poor response

January 15, 2012

Mangalore, January 15: Boat race organised at Panambur Beach for the 17th National Youth Festival evoked a poor response on Saturday with only three teams participating in the event.

The race, which was scheduled to start at 10 a.m., commenced at noon. Minister for Environment, Ecology, Ports and Inland Water Transport J. Krishna Palemar, who had arrived to inaugurate the race, had to return at 11 a.m. following the cold response.

Of the three local teams, Bengre A team won the race with their Nanda Deepa boat and Bengre B team emerged runners-up with their Jala Durga boat.

Prabhakara Suvarna led the winning team which included Latish Putran, Satish Bangera, Yogish Putran and Mahesh Putran. homas Roshan led the second-placed team which included Ajay Ameen, Omprakash Suvarna, Shravin Putran and Vijith Karkera.

Speaking to presspersons after the race, Mr. Prabhakar Survana and Mr. Roshan blamed inadequate publicity for the poor response.

They said that the organisers should have communicated fishermen about the race much in advance. They came to know about the race only in the morning, they added.

Initially, the fishermen said, they were told that it was only a demonstration for the delegates of the festival and not a race. Later, they were informed that it was indeed a race.

However, a member of the organising committee attributed the lukewarm response to the fishermen's preoccupation with their daily tasks.

Suresh Kumar Ullal, Deputy Director, Department of Fisheries, Mangalore, told The Hindu that the first prize carried Rs. 10,000 while the runners-up got Rs. 7,500.

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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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