While strong resentment is brewing among the residents of Sundargarh and Sambalpur over the introduction of toll tax on the Biju Express way, which was dedicated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on March 12, the Sundargarh Citizens’ Committee (SCC) declared a 12-hour Sundargrh Bandh on Saturday.
Members of Zilla Parishad of the district also moved a proposal on Friday for withdrawing the toll tax from the road.
Sources said following the introduction of toll tax, the members of SCC on Wednesday evening had barged into the Masnikani toll tax point and had forcefully removed the staff engaged in toll collection, following which the vehicles plying in that route had a free movement in that route. The toll collection agents, however, have taken a liberal stand on their own to spare the local vehicles for the time being.
A group of BJP workers staged a dharana at the laing toll collection point on Friday, following which tension prevailed in the locality as there were heated exchanges between the toll collecting staff and the protesters.
“We have received a number of petitions in this regard and have forwarded the same to the State Government,” said Sundargarh Collector Vineet Bharadwaj.