ORR lease biggest scam, Rs.1,000-crore changed hands, alleges Revanth Reddy

HYDERABAD: Telangana PCC president A Revanth Reddy has alleged that the leasing of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) is the biggest scam in the country.

Speaking to the media at Gandhi Bhavan on Saturday, Revanth alleged that Rs.1,000 crore changed hands in the lease transaction.

The ORR, which was estimated to grow at least by 10 per cent annually, with an income of at least Rs. 30,000 crores, had been given away to the Mumbai company for Rs.7,380 crores. Initially, an income of Rs.10,000 crore would come through lease. Later it was slashed to Rs.8,000-9,000 crore . Now, it’s given away for Rs.7,380 crores.

Revanth Reddy sought to know what was the hidden agenda in this matter. The entire matter related to the ORR lease was carried out under the supervision of former Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar and was signed by Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar.

If voted to power, the Congress government would review any decisions taken six months before the incumbent government stepped down.

Minister KTR, Somesh Kumar and Arvind Kumar were likely to the beneficiaries in this deal, he alleged.

He said that the Congress party would not accept this decision under any circumstances. This matter was being looked into deeply. “When we come to power, we will first investigate them,” he said.

He warned that the management of the company would also have to go to jail in this regard. Revanth Reddy stated that the Congress party would review all the decisions of Somesh Kumar, Arvind Kumar and Jayesh Ranjan.

Revanth Reddy demanded that it be clarified which companies had collected the ORR toll from 2018 and whether it was given to them in the form of tender or nomination.

For the last four years, the ORR toll collection had been given to Eagle Infra. The ORR collected Rs. 2 crore toll per day. KTR had indulged in corrupt practices on a large scale by extending the lease year after year without the need for a tender.

Revanth Reddy alleged that KCR’s family thought of using this income permanently. He alleged that they decided to commit the project for 30 years to a private company under the Toll Operate Transfer (TOT) system, realizing that there would be no profit for their family.

Revanth Reddy asked as to why the BJP was silent on such decisions taken by the state government. He stated that if KCR were selling people's property why were Bandi Sanjay and Kishan Reddy not even responding?

After Congress came to power in 2004, an international airport was built in the state. The Outer Ring Road had been built. For this, Revanth Reddy said that Rs. 6,696 crore had been spent by the previous state government. The Congress government had constructed the ORR with international standards. He commented that if investments were coming to Telangana, it was because of the infrastructure like Airport and Outer Ring Road.

Every vehicle coming o to Hyderabad had to touch the ORR. Revanth Reddy expressed his grief that with the decision to lease the ORR, the people could not use the Outer Ring Road.

Revanth said that the flexibility to increase the toll charges was linked to the toll agency. Investment meant setting up new infrastructure.

Revanth Reddy commented that he would complain to all investigating agencies including ED, CBI and Central Vigilance on the tender procedures. In fact, earlier, it conspired to be given to Adani.

He alleged that the Mumbai company was given the tender in the wake of the allegations. Revanth demanded that the HMDA officials should reveal who had been given the responsibility of toll collection since 2018.