SAMBALPUR: Residents of Sambalpur and Bargarh districts under the banner of Highway Users Forum demanded shifting of toll plaza on National Highway (NH)-6 at Barahaguda in Bargarh district on Friday. The NH-6 has been widened into a four-lane road from Ainthapali Chowk in Sambalpur to Odisha-Chhattisgarh boarder in Bargarh district by Ashoka Buildcon.
They also submitted a memorandum to Project Director, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), Sambalpur Division, R Venkateswar over their demand.Convener of the forum Debabrata Mishra said toll gate should be located at least 10 km away from the municipality area.
However, the toll gate at Barahaguda is located within five km from Bargarh Municipality area. Even the Transport Department had also advised the NHAI to shift the toll gate towards Sohela. But so far no step has been taken in this regard, he alleged.
He said locals of Bargarh and members of various social organisations had complained about poor quality road work and other problems including drainage, service road, subway, underpass and lighting during the visit of the CGM and Project Director of NHAI who had agreed for re-modification of the road. But more than one year has passed, no step has been taken for re-modification of the road, he added.
Moreover, acting on the complaint of Bar Association of Bargarh and other organisations, a technical team of IIT-Kharagpur was deputed by the NHAI for inspection of quality and design of the road. They had also suggested several modifications.
The NHAI had also agreed for the modification work. But no step has been initiated, Mishra said. They also demanded to stop collection of toll till completion of reconstruction and modification of the road and threatened to launch stir if no step is taken within a period of 15 days.