BJP protests against collection of toll tax

‘Work yet to be completed on ORR’

Outraged villagers throw open tollgates on Outer Ring Road at Gachibowli for motorist to get away without paying accusation in a novel protest organized under aegis of BJP against HMDA collecting tax on ORR demanding complete service road immediacy in Hyderabad on Saturday. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf

Protesting against toll tax collection on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) without completing the work on service roads, the BJP held demonstrations at toll collection centres on Saturday.

The party workers, who along with local residents gathered near the toll centres at Patancheru, Puppalguda, Shamshabad, Tukkuguda and Pedda Amberpet for the protest, were arrested by the police.

S. Malla Reddy, vice-president, State BJP decried the move to collect the toll on the 85 km stretch between Patancheru and Pedda Amberpet when the service roads were not yet completed. At the same time, he questioned the move to charge on the ORR Gachibowli-Shamshabad stretch when work here was done by HMDA funds.

“At several places they have not completed required road-over-bridges and in places like Budvel, Rajendranagar and Shambipur, the service roads are not laid,” he said. Dr. Reddy demanded the authorities to stop toll collection till the service roads and other associated infrastructure were in place. He also wanted the local residents and those who lost land for the project be exempted from the user fee.