HMDA staff to collect toll on ORR from July

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is getting Rs 15 crore as revenue every month after it revised the toll rates on the Outer Ring Road (ORR).The revenue per month increased by Rs 5 crore after the revision.

It was in February that the government gave its nod to the metropolitan body for an increase in the toll rates from 27 to 50 per cent depending on the type of vehicles. Over 21 lakh vehicles ply on the 156.9-km-long ORR. Cars, jeeps, vans and other light motor vehicles comprise the highest vehicular traffic of nearly 16 lakh. Understandably, this class of vehicles contributes the highest, Rs 5 crore towards the monthly figures.

The toll collection is taken care of by a private contractor, whose term is set to end in July. ORR has nearly 130 functional toll booths. The private contractor deployed his own staff and required machinery for toll collection. Irrespective of his monthly toll collection, the contractor should pay Rs 15.6 crore to the HMDA account every month.

The metropolitan body is most likely to have its own toll collection mechanism once the present contract ends in July. According to officials, there is scope for generating more revenue over and above the present Rs15 crore.

“The contractor is paying that much amount. Unless there’s some profit margin and unless his monthly collection is over and above that figure, he cannot give Rs 15 crore to the HMDA every 30 days. The effort is to ensure the HMDA gets the benefit and the additional revenue can be used for development activities,” an official said.

Vehicle toll collection monthly
HMDA’s monthly revenue from toll has increased by '5 crore after a hike in toll charges. Here’s a break-up:
Vehicles                         Toll collection/monthly
Cars, Jeeps, Vans (LMVs)         Rs 6.05 cr
Mini-bus and LCVs                    Rs 1.52 cr
Buses and 2-axle Trucks           Rs 1.44 cr    
3-axle Trucks                              Rs 2.5 cr
Heavy construction machinery   Rs 4.08 cr
Oversized vehicles                     Rs 1.60L cr
Rs 10.5 crore Monthly toll collection before hike.
Rs 15.6 crore Monthly toll collection post hike.
Rs 5 crore Increase in monthly revenue approximately.

HMDA finds it  tough to clear panchayat LRS
The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has a big job on its hand in clearing LRS applications in the Gram Panchayats under its limits. Nearly one lakh applications are found to have deficiencies pertaining to documents.

“A majority of the applications were submitted without attaching the required documents. HMDA communicated to them about the shortfalls. We cannot go ahead with scrutiny unless applicants attach those papers,” HMDA commissioner T. Chiranjeevulu said. As of now, the metropolitan body cleared 36,000 LRS applications while rejecting 14,000 applications received from panchayats.

As large numbers of LRS applications came from panchayats, the commissioner had directed officials to deploy additional staff in some areas to expedite the work. As far as LRS applications from municipal limits are concerned HMDA has complications. It scrutinised the 45,000 applications, of which 16,000 were given clearances while 6,000 others were rejected.