Flouting the NHAI norms, the Srirampur toll plaza is operating on Paradip-Daitary Express way sparking resentment among the public here.
Due to the callous attitude of the State Government to shift the toll plaza, the denizens are forced to provide toll fees in two toll plazaslocated within 35 km for going to Cuttack.
As per the norms of the NHAI, the distance between two plazas will be more than 60 km. But ironically, here the Srirampur toll plaza ismerely 35 km from Tangi toll plaza, which violates the guidelines of the NHAI.
In October 2013, a high-level meeting was organised at District Collectorate over shifting of Srirampur toll gate to Masakani under the chairmanship of the then Collector of Kendrapada. The then district Collector Niranjan Nayak had proposed to the NHAI authority
to shift the Srirampur toll plaza to Masakani. In the meeting, the PD and technical manager of NHAI were present. According to sources, a high level meeting was earlier held in June 2010 under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary for shifting of the Srirampur toll plaza. The Member (administration) NHAI, New Delhi had also attended the meeting.A decision was taken in which a team headed by the Principal Secretary, Commerce and Transport Department associating the State Government officials, representatives from the Head Office of NHAI, New Delhi and Project Director, Bhubaneswar -based project implementation unit would locate a suitable place for relocation of the toll plaza at Srirampur as per the prescribed norm of NHAI.
later,a team had made a field visit on September 2, 2010 and submitted its report to the Government on feasible locations for shifting the toll plaza. The State Government, after careful consideration of the matter, had decided that the toll plaza of Srirampur would be relocated. The NHAI authority had also assured the district administration to take necessary steps for shifting the toll plaza to Masakani.
But, though more than five years have passed but the shifting of the toll gate has not been done. In February last, the people's representatives of Kendrapada Parliamentary segment had urged Union Minister for Road Transport and Highway Nitin Gadkari to take steps to shift the toll plaza. The Union Minister had also assured to look into the matter.
Meanwhile, the denizens of the district have threatened to resort to agitation against the callous attitude of the authorities. When contacted, district Collector Debaraj Senapati stated that he would take up the matter with the NHAI authority and the State Government.