Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Pipli, Jun 3:

While the state government on Tuesday decided to put on hold collection of hiked toll fee at toll plazas, there were allegations of collection of increased toll at Pipli in Odisha's Puri district this morning.

pipli toll gate

According to sources, collection of hiked toll at the Pipli toll gate came to fore this morning following which the Odisha Private Bus Owners’ Association opposed it. In protest, the association decided to stop bus service in Puri-Bhubaneswar route. Several buses were seen being standstill at the toll gate.

However, bus service resumed in the route and normalcy returned at the toll gate after police intervened into the matter, sources said.

It may be recalled that the association had threatened to stop plying of buses passing through all eight toll gates in the state set up by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) from June 1. However, after getting assurance from Odisha Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi regarding postponement of collection of hiked toll, the association had decided to continue bus service in the routes.