The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) Dakshina Kannada district and Mangaluru city units led a people’s padayatra from Brahmarakootlu Toll Plaza to the District Office Complex in Mangaluru, demanding the immediate closure of the toll plaza operating “illegally” at Brahmarakootlu on NH 75 on Tuesday.

The toll plaza on the Mangaluru-Bengaluru NH 75 has been in operation “illegally” for the past 25 years, said SDPI District president S. Anwar Sadath while addressing the participants at the padayatra at Brahmarakootlu. The padayatra started at around 9.30 a.m. and moved along NH 75 to reach Padil, a distance of about 14 km, at around 4 p.m.

As the participants were not allowed to proceed to Praja Soudha, the district complex at Padil, they sat on the highway near Padil Junction, demanding that their demands be addressed by the district administration. Additional Deputy Commissioner K. Raju visited the participants and received a memorandum from them.

Addressing the participants at Brahmarakootlu, Mr. Sadath said that the “illegal” toll collection has been causing severe inconvenience and loss to the road users for many years. The plaza was located precariously, without any facilities for road users and often causes a traffic gridlock. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which maintains the highway between B.C. Road and Nanthoor in Mangaluru, has been collecting toll without any valid reasons, he said.

Mr. Sadath told the district administration that despite multiple demands made to close the toll plaza, the administration had not acted upon them. If the administration does not act, the people would be forced to intensify the agitation, including picketing the NHAI office and other modes of protest, he said.

Published - August 18, 2026 07:50 pm IST