Hyderabad, Aug. 8 -- Traffic on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) has climbed sharply, and toll collections have kept pace, but the state government has refused to sanction any toll increase for the past two years, citing poor maintenance and safety lapses by the road's operator.

According to a Times of India (TOI) report, the standoff has widened the rift between the government and ORR concessionaire IRB Golconda Expressway Private Ltd, with both sides blaming each other over accidents, sanitation and the general upkeep of the expressway.

Government sources said IRB Golconda has been pushing for annual toll revisions linked to the WPI, a norm typically applied on National Highways Authority of India roads that permits hikes of roughly 3 percen...