Demanding waiver of toll tax at the newly constructed Toll Plaza at Tandbalidih hundreds of locals are on hunger strike under the banner of ‘Navjawan Kranti Morcha’ since past ten days.
“We have urged the Bokaro DC that toll should be waived for commuters residing in the radius of 20 kms and,
instead, a pass should be issued to them. But none of the Government officials is
paying any heed on our demand,” said Avinash Singh of the morcha.
“In support of our demand JVM and APP party members rushed here and joined our stir but none of the Government officials came to us,” he added.
The protesters were from neighbouring villages of Kasmar, Jaridih as well as Chas block. When locals approached the officials, they were told there was no provision for the fee waiver, said Sachin a local resident.
“Most houses have more than one car. Now, if each car is charged Rs 30 every time we go out and return home, it creates a burden to all of them,” said Ashok Singh a member of the Morcha.
Earlier a JVM local president Mangal Singh along with party members handed over a
memorandum to Deputy Commissioner RMP Ray demanded to waive the tax for commuters residing in the 20 km radius of the toll plaza, but all goes in-vain, said a protestor.
“The newly constructed Toll Plaza was inaugurated on October 9 and RK Transport a private company got the tender to collects toll at the Tandbalidih in Bokaro. As the company belongs to Giridih MP so none of the officials is paying any heed on our demand, even Bokaro DC too,” alleged the protestor. “We will continue our stir till the Government does not pay heed to our demands”, said Rakesh, District Convenor of AAP.
Sources said that a few days earlier the protestors from other group held a meeting, in which it was decided that if the issue was not resolved in the next few days, a bigger protest would be staged in the area.
Meanwhile, Bokaro DC said that the matter was not in his jurisdiction, the NHAI was authorised for it.
However, NHAI Project Director Satyendra Kumar told that such protests are common during the initial stage. “later it will be resolved,” he added.
