Jajpur: Even as two-and-a-half years have passed since the order of the state transport commissioner regarding shifting of the Panikoili toll plaza to Akhuapada in Bhadrak, about 9 km from the place, the order is yet to be implemented.
Sources said the toll plaza will not be shifted till March, 2019 for somewhat surprising reasons. A frontline leader of the ruling party in the district is calling the shots in the operation of the toll plaza, the sources said.
This leader has delayed the shifting of toll plaza till March, 2019 overruling the commissioner’s order as he is allegedly collecting his expenses for the next General Elections.
The toll plaza despite violating all norms of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is illegally collecting Rs 60 lakh per day without using any automatic boom barrier.
The state transport commissioner in a meeting had decided to shift the toll plazas in Panikoili, Manguli and Srirampur to their designated places July 1, 2016.
Later, the commissioner in a letter-11063, dated July 19, 2016 directed to shift the Panikoli toll plaza to Akhuapada. The decision was taken after it was found fulfilling the NHAI guidelines on establishment of toll plazas.
While preparations are afoot to shit the toll plaza at Manguli to Bandalo in Chhatia but the decision to shift the Panikoli toll plaza to Akhuapada is yet to be implemented.
The consultancy agency apprehending that it might lose a major chunk of revenue it receives from heavy vehicles from Kalinganagar and Keonjhar mines has managed to shelve the decision with the help of the political leader.
As a result, vehicles coming from Jajpur Town, Jajpur Road, Kalinganagar, Kaliapani mines, Keonjhar mining and other industrial areas have to cough up toll while passing through the route. The vehicles on their way to Bhubaneswar have to pay toll twice at two toll plazas within a distance of 52 km.
Chandikhole RTO Mohan Sethy said his office has no role in shifting of the Panikoli toll plaza and the decision for its shifting can only be implemented by the NHAI.
PNN
