Builder Mafia': MCC Corporator accused of corruption

[email protected] (CD Network, Photo: Ahmed Anwar )

March 3, 2012

Mangalore, March 3: People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has accused Mr. Naveen D'Souza, Corporator, Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), of engaging in corruption and encouraging a city builder to grab public land.

Addressing media persons at a press meet on Saturday, Mr. P B D'Sa, President, PUCL and Mr. Frank Miranda, resident of lower Bendur area, accused corporator Naveen D'Souza of forging an unholy alliance with Mr.Louis Pinto, builder of 'Fortune Streak' building in the area (near ESI Hospital) and grabbing one and a half cents of land once used as a bus stop. The land is currently being used by Mr. Louis as his private car parking area, they said.

Mr. Frank Miranda also said that a dust bin which was being used by the people of the area, has also disappeared because of this encroachment, leaving the public with no alternative for disposing their garbage off. He added that the dust bin was installed by an order of the D.C. No.5:2004 on 29-11-2004 and therefore the current action amounts to contempt of court.

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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 Following an order from the central government to suspend toll collection, KSRTC has also withdrawn the additional fare with immediate effect,” he said.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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