The under-construction tollgate on NH-5 near Balasore. Telegraph picture

Balasore, Oct. 24: Transport associations of this district have expressed strong opposition to the construction of a tollgate on National Highway -5 near Sergarh, about 10km from here. They have threatened to launch an agitation unless the gate is shifted from its present location.

“The tollgate at Sergarh will cause immense financial burden not only for the transporters but also local vehicles. We have already been paying toll tax at two points between Balasore and Bhubaneswar. This tollgate will further add a financial burden of Rs 250 and above for each vehicle passing through this stretch of the highway. So, we oppose the idea of construction of the gate here,” said Kartik Pradhan, secretary of Balasore Bus Owners’ Association.

“We have conveyed our opposition to the higher authorities. However, we see that the construction is still going on here in full swing. We will be forced to take to the streets if our grievance is not addressed immediately,” he said.

A local truck and lorry association has also expressed resentment over construction of the tollgate. They also alleged that the benchmark of installing a tollgate had not been followed at Sergarh.

“If the checkgate at Sergarh becomes operational, even local operators will have to bear its brunt by paying toll tax through their nose for a short trip. The benchmark of distance between two tollgates is not being followed in this case of Sergarh,” said Balasore Truck Coordination Committee secretary Narendra Bihari Das.

“If the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) wants to have a tollgate to collect tax from the vehicles plying on NH-5, it can have the gate at any point between Kuruda and Naharpatna so that the local vehicles are not penalised. But even before that, the NHAI authorities should repair the bad patches and rectify the faulty design of the highway. We will fight against its construction if our pleas are not heard,” he said.

“Sergarh connects the tribal-dominated Nilgiri block and neighbouring Mayurbhanj with NH-5. The blocks operating under ITDA (integrated tribal development agency) will suffer if this tollgate comes up here,” said Rabi Rout, an activist.