Keonjhar: The proposed road laying work for extension of NH-20, stretching 166.173-km-long from Panikoili to Rimuli, was awarded to a private company by NHAI authorities.
Allegedly, in situation where the road laying work has not yet been completed, three tollgates were erected in August 2017 at Hasanpur on the suburb of Anandapur, Khantaghar, near Dhenkikote and Banajodi in Keonjhar district and toll collection was started.
It is known a firm named M/s. Sai Maa Tarini Tollways Limited was given the contract to collect toll for 24 years. Moreover, the three tollgates are collecting toll at different rates for same categories of vehicles. This has sparked resentment among local commuters.
Notably, the issue was debated earlier in various forums and discussions were held among intellectuals. Despite public agitations in the past days protesting toll collection, it has not yet been resolved.
According to Clause-3.2 of Section-14 of the Contract Agreement, toll collection can be started only if 75 per cent of the road laying work is completed. On the other hand, the Agreement envisages that remaining work must be completed within 90 days, NHAI sources said.
Surprisingly, two years have already passed since then and the road laying work is still remaining incomplete. This highway project was started under Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme. The authorities have already initiated process for taking action against the company, the NHAI sources informed.
However, according to the NHAI norms there should be at least 60 km distance between two tollgates, whereas the distance between Khantaghar and Banajodi tollgates is much less than that. The NHAI authorities are silent over such breach of rule.
As strong resentment of local commuters is assuming alarming proportions day by day, the district administration has to intervene and resolve the issue on a priority basis, residents warned.
WHAT DOES LAW SAY
According to Clause-3.2 of Section-14 of the Contract Agreement, toll collection can be started only if 75 per cent of the road laying work is completed. On the other hand, the Agreement envisages that remaining work must be completed within 90 days. Here, two years have already passed and the road laying work is still incomplete
PNN
