The Times of India 11.12.2010
Another ORR stretch to be ready soon
HYDERABAD: As another segment of Outer Ring Road (ORR) between Pedda Amberpet and Shamshabad is nearing completion, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has set its eyes on toll tax. All major works have been completed on the 38-km-stretch, and only final touches are being given to the road.
"We are planning to get the ORR ready by December 15, 2010," HMDA metropolitan commissioner Rajeshwar Tiwari told TOI.
However, sources said though the works might be completed in a few days, the ORR stretch would be thrown open to traffic only after the state government decides on the toll tax. HMDA officials hope the toll tax would be finalised in a couple of days.
Toll tax will be collected from motorists on the entire 62-km road fromGachibowli to Pedda Amberpet via Shamshabad. Though the 24-km ORR phase-I from Gachibowli to Shamshabad was opened to traffic in November, 2008, toll is not being collected from motorists.
HMDA is in the process of finalising intelligent transport system, including highway traffic management system (HTMS) and toll management system. The toll management has been proposed in manual, touch-and-go and on-board unit (with smart card) modes. Since the intelligent transport system takes time, the HMDA has decided to collect toll manually.
ORR phase II-A Pedda Amberpet (three packages) were supposed to be completed by May 2010, but the deadline has been revised to September 2010. Again it got delayed and would be ready in the next few days. Two more packages of phase II-A covering 23.7 km from Narsingi to Patancheru are expected to be ready by March 2011.
The phase II-A cost has been pegged at about Rs 2,439 crore on build operate and transfer (BOT) annuity model. HMDA has to repay amount on annuity basis to the contractor by collecting tax.
The 71-km phase II-B (six packages) works taken up with the assistance of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are: 38-km stretch from Patancheru to Shamirpet and 33-km segment between Shamirpet and Pedda Amberpet. These stretches would be ready by November 2011 and November 2012 respectively.
"The entire 158-km Outer Ring Road with eight lanes will be ready only in the next two years i.e., in December 2012," a senior HMDA official said.
