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Speaking to media on October 9th, Muneer Katipalla said, “The state government had proposed to merge Surathkal and Hejamady toll gates, but National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has denied the proposal. In the month of January earlier this year, there was meeting held by state government in the presence of NHAI officials and a resolution was passed to merge Surathkal and Hejamady toll gates. But still, Surathkal toll gate continues to function after illegally renewing the tender twice.”
Indefinite strike
“On September 26 earlier this year, we held a padayathra from Kulai to Surathkal demanding the closure of Surathkal toll gate. Soon after, a meeting was held under MP Nalin Kumar Kateel. During the meeting, the issue of closure of Surathkal toll gate was discussed. The MP ordered the officials to merge Surathkal and Hejamady toll gate and also ordered to stop toll collection at Surathkal. We believed that Surathkal toll gate would cease to function. But unfortunately, a fresh tender has been invited yet again. So we have decided to call for indefinite strike on October 30 until a decision to close Surathkal toll gate is taken,” announced Mr Muneer.
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Speaking on the dilapidated condition of Kulur Bridge, Mr Muneer said, “We have been demanding the renovation of Kulur Bridge from a long time. Now they have announced that the bridge is not fit for transportation and also that the bridge will be closed for the construction of a new bridge. It is wrong to shut down the old bridge. We demand that until the new bridge is ready, the old bridge be repaired and make fit for transportation.”