Elevated corridor to fetch Rs 35,000 crore toll revenue in 20 years

BENGALURU: The 95-km elevated corridor project will earn revenue of ₹34,924 crore for its promoters from toll over a period of 20 years as the project comes up in phases. The state government has proposed the corridor over six high-density roads as a “practical option to decongest traffic in the city.”

The 405-page detailed project report, prepared by consultants last year at a cost of ₹10 crore, and hidden for so long from public scrutiny, however, surfaced on Monday. The report, commissioned by the Karnataka Road Development Corporation has come up before the State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority for its scrutiny. The report is available on the Authority’s website for public viewing.

The DPR suggests levying a toll of ₹1.62 per kilometre (km) for two-wheelers and ₹4.80 per kilometre for cars. The buses will pay the highest of ₹12.97 per kilometre.

The consultants have made their own projections in the growth of vehicular traffic, according to which, the toll collection will begin with ₹355 crore a year in the first year of operation and balloon to ₹2,883 crore a year in the 20th year, adjusting to inflation. This means, toll collections alone will accumulate to ₹34,924 crore over a 20 year period, as the project will shape up in four phases.

The report also mentions that the users of the elevated roads would benefit from faster commute and saving in fuel and vehicle operating costs.

These benefits will save₹16,442 crore in vehicle operating costs alone, claims the report. The report was prepared by AECOM, Deloitte and Infra Support Engineering Consultants.

KRDCL managing director M Ganesh, however, said the DFR is not the final document as far as toll rates went. “The government might execute the project without a toll at all if it so wishes,” he said.