Submit all paperwork on Nehru ORR toll project, Telangana HC asks state
The petitioner in the case said that roughly Rs 88 lakhs are collected per day at the toll gates, and if such an amount is calculated yearly for a period of 30 years, the total amount runs into crores of rupees.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 20 July 2023 1:51 PM GMT
Representational Image.
Hyderabad: The High Court asked the state government to submit all information on the Nehru Outer Ring Road (ORR) Toll Operate and Transfer project, including government orders, circulars, letters of award and concession agreements.
The Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice N Rajeshwar Rao sent notices regarding the case to the principal secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development, commissioner of HMDA, Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited, IRB Infrastructure Developers Limited and IRB Golconda Express Limited, directing them to respond within four weeks.
The Acting CJ Division Bench was responding to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by K Mahesh Kumar, from Gowlipura, Hyderabad. The counsel for the petitioner, Avinash Desai, informed the court that the state government has not posted any documentation of the project in the public domain.
He added that the contract for the construction of the Nehru Outer Ring Road, said to cost around Rs 6,500 crores, was awarded to IRB Infrastructure Developers Limited and IRB Golconda Express Highway by entering into a concession agreement for a period of 30 years, which is against the rules in the HMDA Act, 2008.
The petitioner said that roughly Rs 88 lakhs are collected per day at the toll gates, and if such an amount is calculated yearly for a period of 30 years, the total amount runs into crores of rupees.
Counsel Avinash Desai, sought a direction to the two contractors to not transfer the bid concession fee of Rs 7,380 crores to the HMDA, and if the amount is transferred, then sought a direction to the HMDA to not transfer the fee to the state.
Acting Chief Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili said that the money which will be received by the government from this project will be spent on other developmental works. It directed the advocate general to file a detailed counter affidavit and also furnish copies of all GOs pertaining to the project.
The case was adjourned to August 8.
