Truck owners demand rollback of toll fee hike

JHARSUGUDA: Truck and tipper operators from industrial and mining belts met here on Wednesday under the aegis of Western Orissa Truck Owners� Federation to wage a fight against the abnormal road toll hike.

As per the newly promulgated directive of Works department, the Orissa Bridge and Construction, a government enterprise, has been authorised to collect Rs 200 from each truck for a trip.

It�s a 20-time hike with the earlier rate being Rs 20. At a meeting held here on Wednesday, tippers and truck owners from 11 associations of Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Rengali, Bandhbahal, Rajgangpur, Brajrajnagar, Balangir and Sundargarh decided to take shelter in the Orissa High Court.

It was resolved that on April 10, around 15,000 heavy vehicles under the federation banner would go off the road if the State Government fails to act upon their demand. There are five check gates between Sambalpur and Rourkela and each truck would have to pay Rs 1000 to cross these which is burdensome as each truck owner is already paying Rs 4,500 towards permits only.