Chennai bypass likely to be monetised under TOT mode

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planning to monetise the 32 km Chennai Bypass connecting Irumbuliyur with Puzhal under the toll-operate-transfer (TOT) programme where the already operational national highways are assigned to private bodies on a long-term concession basis. The Chennai Bypass is a fully access-controlled expressway that interconnects four radial national highways around Chennai, covering a distance of 32 km from Perungalathur (near Tambaram) on NH-45 to Puzhal on NH-5 via Maduravoyal. If taken up, this could be the second road in Tamil Nadu to be offered to a private concessionaire after the 52 km stretch from Madurai to Kanyakumari. The Madurai-Kanyakumari national highway has already been given to a concessionaire under TOT. The NHAI, whose roads are being given under TOT mode, would get a fixed sum and it is up to the concessionaire to ensure they get their investment back. NHAI sources told the media that this was a relatively new concept and was being tried to bring in bigger and better companies that have the wherewithal to maintain roads better. In build-operate-transfer mode (BOT), the concessionaire has to invest the money, construct the road and has to take the risk of waiting for land or delay in construction, the sources said. Whereas in this mode, the TOT contractor gets a completed road and does not have the hassles of land acquisition and construction. Since the contractor needs to get back its investment, it has to ensure quality services, according to the source. Image Source Also read: NHAI to propose rolling plan for highway development Also read: Centre signs up with JICA for Chennai Ring Road