Life in capital to cost more

Citizens will have to pay for Urban Transport Fund for free traffic flow

Officials have drafted a proposal for submission to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, which, if approved will see residents of the twin cities paying more for fuel and for buying vehicles, besides an increase in property tax and others.

The TS government has decided to create an Urban Transport Fund to improve traffic system in the twin cities. To mobilise resources for this, a separate cess will be imposed on fuel, sales of vehicles, property tax etc.

The Municipal Administration and Urban Development department has decided to increase property tax by 5 per cent from April 1, 2017. The proposed cess will be in addition to this revised property tax.

The Urban Metropolitan Transport Authority, under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary S.P. Singh, had recently taken a decision to this effect.

The proposals will be submitted to the Chief Minister for approval.

Officials said they were yet to finalise the details of the cess to be charged and the goods and services to be brought under its ambit.

As per the decision taken by UMTA, parking fees and the amount collected through penalties in the twin cities should be deposited with it so that it can utilise the money to maintain traffic signals and traffic warning signs.

Police officials had been seeking installation of traffic signals for as many as 105 accidentprone junctions and pelican signals in areas under the Cyberabad police jurisdiction.

After discussing the accidents on the Outer Ring Road, the meeting decided to notify the permitted operational speed on ORR at 100 kmph, lower the speeds and by setting up rumble strips and thermoplastic strips on entry and exit points, improve the signages and procure laser speed guns for enforcement of the speed limit.

To take strict action on drunken driving, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority will procure 12 breath analysers for the traffic police to be utilised exclusively on the ORR.