Bypolls to Udupi Chikmagalur Lok Sabha on Mar 18

February 16, 2012

Mangalore, February 16: The Election Commission announced the schedule of by-elections to Udupi Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka.

Polling would be held on March 18 and the counting would take place on March 21.

The notification would be issued on February 22 and the last date for filing nomination papers is February 29. The last date for withdrawal is March 3.

The Udupi Chikmagalur Parliamentary seat was vacated by Karnataka Chief Minister D Sadanand Gowda.

Besides, the Election commission also announced by-elections for 11 assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Odisha and one seat in Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council. However, counting for the J&K Legislative Council seat, if required, would be held on March 22 and the counting would take place the same day.

For filling up the lone seat of Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Council, the EC has decided to issue the notification on March 6, with the last date for filing nominations being March 12 and scrutiny on March 13 and last date for withdrawal is March 15. The seat had fallen vacant on December 27, 2011, after the death of Yashpal Khajuria.

The assembly by-elections will be held in Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Kovur, Ghanpur Station-SC, Kollapur, Adilabad and Kamareddy (all Andhra Pradesh), Mansa (Gujarat), Piravom ( (Kerala), Sankaran Kovil-SC (Tamil Nadu) and Athgarh (Odisha).

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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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