Private agency to maintain 95-km of ORR

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is roping in a private agency to operate and maintain three sections, covering nearly 95 km, of the 158-km-long Outer Ring Road (ORR) for a period of one year.

The 158-km-long ORR was constructed in three phases at a cost of Rs 6,696 crore. It has five sections and of these, three sections, including the Gachibowli – Shamshabad (24.38 km), Patancheru-Shamirpet (38 km) and Shamirpet- Pedda Amberpet (33.3 km) are to be operated and maintained by the private agency.

The other two sections, Pedda Amberpet-Shamshabad and Narsingi- Patancheru, are being operated and maintained by another private agency under Built Operate and Transfer mode.

HMDA is inviting private agencies for operating and maintaining the three sections for one year. During this period, the agency will be responsible for maintaining the roads, recarpeting and restoration, if any. This apart, it has to construct the metal crash barriers after accidents, said a senior official from HMDA.

Every month, HMDA spends about Rs.70 lakh towards maintenance of three sections of the ORR. This is an annual contract and has been continuing since the last few years as HMDA does not have



the requisite manpower and equipment to operate and maintain the sections of ORR, the official said.

In addition to technical expertise, the agencies bidding for operation and maintenance of ORR will have to declare availability of different machinery and equipment to take up works on the expressway. They should have three patrol vehicles, three ambulances, two 15 tonne capacity towing vehicles with crane, mechanical broomer and suction broomer.

More importantly, the agencies should have manpower, including project manager, engineers and route operation manager for executing the works on the ORR. Based on the works executed by the agency, HMDA pays, he said.

Generally, the operation and maintenance contract is called for three years but with HMDA seriously considering for asset monetization of ORR through Toll, Operate and Transfer (TOT), the contract period this time has been confined to one year. Already a transaction advisor was appointed to study different aspects.

The project is expected to garner significant extra-budgetary resources for Telangana that can be used for other infrastructure assets. More importantly, there will be no additional cost on the users or taxpayers.