Rourkela: Life was hit in Sundargarh district because of the strike called in protest against the collection of toll fees on the Biju Expressway between the city and Sambalpur.

The strike called by the Sundargarh Nagarik Committee and backed by the lawyers' association was peaceful. The committee is protesting against the toll collection at the gates within Sundargarh district.

Business establishments, banks, government offices and other organisations downed their shutters.

Even small vendors supported the protest. Farmers, who use tractors, complained about the toll fee they paid at the Masnikani toll gate (there are three toll collection gates on the 170-km-long expressway. The gates are near Laing, at Masnikani and near Sambalpur). "An amount of Rs 250 was charged for each tractor which is an extra burden on us," said a farmer.

A wide spread discontentment is brewing against the toll tax collection on the Biju Expressway since it was inaugurated by the chief minister last week at Jharsuguda.

"In the past three days, I have paid more than Rs 500 for travelling to Burla with my ailing mother," said a local resident.

"We were left with no other choice than to oppose the toll collection in a peaceful manner," said committee president Ashok Das.

"To collect tax the government must get the Assembly's approval. Even no gram sabha was called to decide on the toll fee collection," he further said.

Das said that on Monday, a protest rally would be held near the Masnkani toll gate to warn the government and the agency collecting the tax.

Sundargarh superintendent of police Pinak Mishra said there was no untoward incidents during the strike. Twenty platoons of police were deployed. "There has been no arrest during the bandh," said Mishra.