SIT to probe ORR Toll Tenders row

CM Revanth orders SIT probe after Harish Rao’s challenge

metro india news  I hyderabad

Revanth, who had not participated in any discussion since the Assembly resumed suddenly got up even as Bhatti and Harish Rao were involved in a heated debate, to announce the SIT probe catching the opposition BRS off-guard.

The Telangana government had ordered a SIT, Special Investigation Team, inquiry into the ORR Toll Tenders row. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy made this announcement in Assembly on Thursday. He said that this issued would be discussed in Cabinet to decide on SIT's Terms of Reference and Guidelines for the probe.

Further, Revanth explained that he arrived at this decision after BRS MLA T Harish Rao's challenge to cancel the ORR tenders if the government wished to do so. A pressnote from Chief Minister's Office later stressed that government decided on SIT probe based on Harish Rao's demand in the assembly.

It may be noted that during short discussion on "Outstanding Liabilities" of the state in Assembly on Thursday afternoon, Harish Rao asked the Congress government to cancel the ORR tenders, as it was time and again pointing fingers at the previous BRS regime alleging its decision to award the ORR toll tender for 30 years at a pittance to a company named IRB resulted in a massive loss of nearly Rs 30,000 crore to the state exchequer. Harish reasoned that he dared the government to cancel the contract as Deputy CM and Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka also made similar allegations during his speech in the House. Welcoming the probe, Harish, however, wanted the government to cancel the tender and then go for a probe instead.

Earlier Revanth, who had not participated in any discussion since the Assembly resumed winter session on Monday, suddenly got up, even as Bhatti and Harish Rao were involved in a heated debate, to announce the SIT probe throwing the opposition BRS off-guard. He touched upon how the Congress regime in the combined state conceptualized the ORR project on international standards and took loan from JICA, which was cleared later. 

However, the BRS government decided to award the toll tender for 30-years at a pittance to a company, he alleged. He also highlighted various initiatives that Congress government did for giving a big boost to Brand Hyderabad including the International airport, Metro Rail, IT Hub, Sports Infrastructure, top educational institutions like ISB, IIIT, IIT etc., which all were the reason that the state's budget is well over 2.5 lakh crore at present.

Did not demand an enquiry at all: Harish

Harish Rao once again tried to make his point finding fault with press release from CMO's office that SIT probe was ordered upon his request. Harish reasoned that he asked the government to cancel the tender and did not utter a word about probe. He appealed to the speaker to halt the proceedings and examine the video footage for the clarity of the treasury benches.  To this, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy countered by saying that what CM did was what Harish wanted exactly. Before cancelling any contract, there has to be a proper inquiry by any investigating agency. Accordingly, we ordered the SIT probe and based on its findings and report, further decision would be taken, Ponguleti countered.

ORR toll tenders row in a nutshell

It may be recalled that in August last year, HMDA invited global competitive bids for the Outer Ring Road toll on a toll-operate-transfer (TOT) basis, in which the company IRB had participated and emerged as the selected bidder. The firm then said it had made an upfront payment of ₹7,000 crore to the HMDA. At that time, Revanth Reddy, who was the TPCC Chief made a big hue and cry suspecting foul play in this episode. He faulted the BRS government for finalizing the tender for a meagre Rs 7800 crore and that too for a never heard off 30-year period at one go for a private firm. Revanth alleged that public money to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore was lost. He even tried to meet and seek details and answers from Arvind Kumar, IAS, the then Principal Secretary, MAUD but was not allowed inside the present Secretariat. Also, the Congress government focused on this matter in February this year soon within a few months after forming the government. HMDA Joint Commissioner Amrapali Kata was told to submit a report on ORR toll tenders controversy. She was told to submit complete details about the “irregularities” in the tenders, the procedures followed and the movement of the files during the tendering process. The officials were also instructed to register cases against the officials and employees concerned if any files related to ORR tenders were found to be missing.

After receiving a full report from HMDA, the government will discuss it in the Cabinet and hand over the issue for a probe to the CBI.