Locals block road on Biju Expressway in Odisha. Here’s why

Sambalpur: Just a week after Sambalpur-Rourkela Biju Expressway was inaugurated for improving road connectivity in western Odisha, the locals staged road blockade near Pradhanpali village protesting toll fee collection here today.

The locals blocked the road demanding exemption of toll fee for the vehicles having registration number of Sambalpur.

Hundreds of vehicles including trucks and buses were stranded on the road due to protest.

The district administration has deployed security forces at the protest site to maintain law and order to avoid any untoward incident.

Notably, Biju Expressway was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on March 12. The total investment has been made for Expressway under PPP mode. While Odisha government has spent 36%, L&T paid 64% for the project.