Odisha Government Likely To Hike Toll Fees After 13 Years

Bhubaneswar: After a span of almost 13 years, toll fees are likely to be increased as the Odisha government is mulling to revise the existing tariff structure.

According to reports, Odisha Bridge & Construction Corporation Limited has written a letter to the State Works department to revise and fix new toll fees as per the Odisha State Roads Tolls (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules 2011.

While 29 toll gates are under the Works department, seven toll plazas are under the Rural Development department in the State. A total of around Rs 22-24 crore is being annually collected from these toll gates.

As the government needs funds for construction of the roads and renovation of bridges among others, there is a need to hike the existing tariffs, said sources.

“A notification will be issued stating on which roads tolling is needed. As per the tollable length, a decision will be taken on the tariffs for different vehicles,” said Jaya Krushna Das, Managing Director of Odisha Bridge & Construction Corporation Limited.

However, after the revision in tariffs, the toll fees may increase and also decrease at some places ‘depending on the tollable length’, Das added.

On the other hand, concerns are being raised as people are reportedly hesitating to even pay the current toll fees which are being collected as per the toll fee norms, 2006.

“People are not even paying Rs 15. However, people will be forced to pay if the rule is strictly enforced,” said Mundali (Cuttack) toll gate manager, Gouranga Charan Mohanty.

If the tariff is hiked, we will have to pay but the government should let us know in what ways an increase in the toll fee will benefit us,” said a vehicle owner, Rajesh Prasad.