Chennai: Toll collection on outer ring road to start this week – Times of India

CHENNAI: Months after Old Mahabalipuram Road became toll-free, driving out of Chennai may cost more as the Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC) has decided to start collecting tolls at four places along the Chennai Outer Ring Road from next week. Trial run for collecting tolls at Varadharajapuram, Kolappancheri (near Nazarathpet), Nemilichery, and Chinnamullaivoyal began on Friday.
While phase-I of the project between Vandalur and Nemilichery was completed at a cost of Rs 1,081 crore, phase-II work between Nemilichery and Minjur was completed and opened for traffic in February.

“We have checked the functioning of boom barriers, FASTag scanners, toll collection systems and cameras installed at these locations,” said a senior TNRDC official on Saturday. A private agency has been roped in for collecting the tolls from next week, the officer said. According to government estimates, more than 30,000 chargeable vehicles will use the stretch every day. TNRDC is yet to release the final toll fee list. Even if Rs 40 is charged per vehicle, the agency will earn Rs 43 crore every year.
TSadagopan, a residentactivist from Pattabiram, said that twowheeler traffic along ORR will be much higher as several residential localities have come up on both sides of the road. “Movement of trucks on the stretch, which connects four industrial hubs in and around Chennai, is also expected to be high. The government must focus on road safety. Maintenance of toll roads in Tamil Nadu is generally poor,” he said.
The TNRDC official said an Advanced Traffic Management System will be installed in addition to highway patrol, ambulances and rescue posts. Adequate lighting has been provided at all entry/exit ramps to ensure better visibility, he said.
Construction of the project under PPP mode on Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer basis was started 10 years ago.