Surathkal: The order preventing the forced collection of toll at Surathkal tollgate will end on July 22^nd. After this, the state government’s secretary has ordered the district administration to provide police protection for toll collection at the toll plaza. The decision regarding the provision of toll exemption to local vehicles is not with the authority of the district administration, informed Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil.

Speaking with “Udayavani” the DC said, “Since the district in-charge minister requested the chief secretary, the toll collection has been withheld for a couple of days. But the exemption cannot be pushed for on. We need to act as per the direction of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI),” he informed.

The district administration does not have the authority to say or decide upon the non-collection of tolls. We will wait and observe until Monday. The Chief Secretary has already informed to provide police protection to the toll collection by NHAI. If they send the order again, then the district administration is compelled to follow the order. No clear information has been provided by the Centre asking to provide exemption from the toll,” he explained.