Hyderabad: Officials of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority have embarked on a tour of Europe to study how to apply asset monetisation to the Outer Ring Road (ORR) through the Toll, Operate and Transfer method.
HMDA wants to lease out the ORR to a private agency to operate and maintain three sections covering nearly 95 km of the 158-km-long road.
The ORR was constructed in three phases at a cost of Rs 6,696 crore. It has five sections of which three — Gachibowli-Shamshabad, Patancheru-Shamirpet and Shamirpet-Pedda Amberpet — are to be handed over for operation and maintenance by the private agency.
In October last year, HMDA had appointed a financial adviser to study different aspects of the TOT. Based on the report, the team is visiting European countries to study the pros and cons and adopt the same for the ORR.
A senior official said that the HMDA spends about Rs 70 lakh every month for the maintenance of the three ORR sections. The contract has been continuing since the last few years as HMDA does not have the manpower and equipment to operate and maintain all sections of the ORR. He said the operation and maintenance contract is generally for three years but with HMDA seriously considering asset monetisation of the ORR through TOT, the contract period this time has been confined to one year for financial reasons.
The official said that HMDA would invite bidding for a three-year contract. The bidders will have to declare availability of the necessary machinery and equipment to take up work on the expressway. The agencies should have three patrol vehicles, three ambulances, two 15 tonne capacity towing vehicles with crane, mechanical broom and suction broom, besides expertise.
