A 12-hour Sundargarh Bandh called by the Sundargarh Citizens’ Committee on Saturday protesting toll tax collection on the Sambalpur-Rourkela Biju Expressway was total.
Shops in market complexes, Government offices and bus-stand areas wore a deserted look as there was large scale support to the bandh by people from all walks of life.
The protesters, however, excluded the students appearing in examinations and also the patients. At some points, the protesters staged road blockades by burning tyres.
Besides, the on -road dispatches of coal in all mines of the MahanadiCoalfields ltd came to a grinding halt as trucks and tippers were offroad.
The people, who came out openly in support of the bandh, claimed that the toll collection was completely unjustified. The public claimed that they have been paying toll tax on the road since 1992 when it was known as SH 10.
The protesters also maintained that the State Government has reintroduced the toll tax, after its renovation and renaming of the road as the Biju Expressway.
"We are extremely thankful to the people of the Sundargarh town and neighbouring areas, for providing spontaneous support to the bandh call, on demand of abolition of toll tax, from Sambalpur-Rourkela Biju Expressway," said SCC president Ashok Das.