The state government on Monday issued an order accepting the contract of PK Hospitality Services that quoted Rs 22.73 crore for the toll collection facility on Outer Ring Road. The toll will be collected from Pedda Amberpet to Patancheru, 79 km, at a monthly premium of Rs 1.26 crore. The toll collection points at Pedda Amberpet, Bongulur, Raviryal, Tukkuguda, Pedda Golconda, Shamshabad, Rajendranagar, APPA, Kokapet, Edulanagulapally, Patancheru and Nanakramguda interchanges will be for 18 months from the date of handing over the stretch.
“Once manual collection of toll tax begins, unauthorised movement of vehicles, especially two-wheelers, will stop and road accidents will come down,” an engineering official said. Although toll booths are awaited, the toll rates were finalised in April 2011. The toll tax for cars and jeeps would be Rs 0.82 per km, LCVs and mini-buses Rs 1.33 per km, buses and trucks Rs 2.79 per km, multi-axle trucks (3 to 6 axles) Rs 4.36 per km and other multi-axle vehicles (7 or more) Rs 5.32 per km.
Though the planning body called for tenders initially, the response from prospective contractors was very poor. However, in the beginning of this year, they finalised one more tender and two companies were shortlisted for the bid.