Potholes and craters have developed on the surface of Adityapur toll bridge, leading to the inconvenience of commuters who use this key stretch to travel to and from Kadma.

“When the bridge was opened to the public in 2011, I thought it was a gift to the residents of both the steel city and adjoining Adityapur-Gamharia. Like others, I also enjoyed riding through the bridge. But it’s not the same anymore,” said Prasant Singh, a resident of Kagalnagar in Sonari..

Gamharia resident Devashish Acharya, who takes the toll bridge regularly, said the condition of the bridge was deteriorating fast.

“I have been using the toll bridge from the beginning. It was maintained well till four -five years after its inauguration. After that, its condition deteriorated fast. I used to ride through the bridge comfortably back then. Now, I have to watch out for the cracks and potholes,” Acharya told this correspondent.

According to Acharya, who works at a private company in Jamshedpur, most of the time the toll bridge remains dark.

“Add to it the undulating surface and it is a perfect recipe for mishaps,” he added.

The 2.2km toll bridge was set up in August 2011 by Adityapur Toll Bridge Company Limited (ATBCL).

The state government is a stakeholder in ATBCL besides Tata Steel and Adityapur Industrial Area Development Authority.

Himanshu Prasun, toll manager of the bridge, admitted that the bridge has developed potholes and cracks at a number of spots and said they would undertake repairs soon.

Asked about the lack of proper maintenance, Himanshu said they were facing a financial crisis.

“The toll bridge has been running at a loss for the past four years. Ever since the Domuhani bridge came up in March this year, the losses have widened. A large number of trucks and trailers, which used to pass through the toll bridge to go to NH-33 via Kandra-Chowka, are directly going to the NH-33 through the Domuhani bridge,” the toll manager told The Telegraph.

Listing the expenses, sources at ATBCL said there were 40 staff posted at the toll bridge. Moreover, the company has to pay bank interests undertake maintenance.

The collection of toll tax stands at Rs 1.7 lakh per day against the break-even point of Rs 2 lakh.

Two-wheelers and auto-rickshaws are exempted from paying the toll fee.

A car has to pay Rs 20, vans and buses have to shell out Rs 30, trucks Rs 65, trailers Rs 95 and over-sized vehicles are charged Rs 125.