Property worth ₹ 1.5 crore gutted in toll plaza fire

LUCKNOW: Property worth₹ 1.5 crore was reduced to ashes after a major fire broke out at the Nigoha toll plaza office on Lucknow-Raebareli (NH 24-B) highway here on Saturday.

The cash (around R 25 lakh) collected from the vehicles was also damaged. Police said the fire broke out apparently due to short circuit in the temporary office at around 5am. Two toll plaza employees were also sleeping inside but they were taken out in time. The police personnel said the toll plaza employees informed the fire brigade after a delay of 30 minutes and remained busy dousing the flames themselves.

The fire tenders from PGI fire station were rushed to the spot after getting information. The fire fighters doused the flames after two hours.

Toll plaza manager Dinesh Singh informed that at least Rs 25 lakh cash and computerized system used to feed data of the vehicles passing through the toll plaza was completely damaged. He said the installation of the new system would cost over Rs 1.25 crore.

Manual arrangements have been made for collection of toll tax from vehicles till the new system is installed.

MAJOR RESHUFFLE

In a major reshuffle, SSP Lucknow Deepak Kumar shifted inspectors and sub-inspectors, including 21 police stations in charges of the state capital late on Saturday night.

Moreover, at least 40 police constables of Para police station were transferred after IG Jai Narain Singh ordered to shift the constables posted there for more than six months.

Earlier in the day, the IG conducted a surprise inspection of the Para police station and asked SSP Deepak Kumar to transfer the constables after finding that most of them had been posted there for very long time.