NHAI temporarily stops toll collection from buses on NH-215

Keonjhar: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) today decided to stop toll collection from buses on NH-215 till further orders after a meeting with private bus owners’ association, the toll collection company and the district administration.

The Keonjhar unit of the bus owners’ association, on Friday, had opposed toll collection at Hasanpur Chhak while terming the toll gate as illegal. Even a minor scuffle broke out between the bus owners’ association members and staff of the newly inaugurated toll plaza leading to disruption in traffic.

General secretary of the state bus owners’ association Debendra Sahu stated passengers will feel the pinch if toll is collected from buses.

“A bus plying between Bhubaneswar and Keonjhar will have to cough up around Rs 1,200 daily as toll which in turn will affect the passengers,” said Sahu.