Sambalpur: Citizens of Bargarh district have formed a platform to intensify their agitation against the alleged substandard construction of Sambalpur-Bargarh highway.

The Highway Users' Forum held a meeting in Bargarh and has decided to agitate in support of their demands.

The forum accused the private company of substandard job that had damaged several portions of the 52km road. They said the company was collecting steep toll fee but not maintaining the road. During rains, water flows on the highway near Baraipali, Ainthapali and Attabira town.

In the first phase, the forum will sit on dharna in front of the office of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) in Sambalpur.

They will also submit a memorandum to the revenue divisional commissioner.

In the second phase, they will resort to road blockade at places such as Remed Chowk, Attabira, Ashoka toll plaza near Bargarh and at Sohela. The road blockade will continue for two hours. If by then the administration doesn't respond to their demands, they will resort to indefinite agitation at the toll plaza near Bargarh. The dates of the agitations will be announced shortly, forum convener Debabrata Mishra said that although Rs 1,080 crore had been provided to Ashoka Buildcon for road construction, lack of quality had damaged it at several places. He alleged that the company did not construct parking space, toilets and rest sheds for truckers.

Similarly, there are no lights when the highway travels through towns. Due to poor quality of work and absence of traffic signals, accidents have become frequent, Mishra said.

The forum alleged that the company had violated rule by setting up the toll plaza 4.8km from Bargarh, while it should have been more than 5km from the town.

Mishra said the forum would agitate and also continue with the legal battle against the company.

Bargarh Muncipal Council chairman Prasanta Behera supported the agitation. He said: "We shall fight till the last to achieve the goal."

Group clash

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Child torture cuffs

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