Hyderabad: QR code-based payments to be implemented in 19 ORR Interchange Toll Plazas from April 1

All toll plazas on Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road will go fully cashless from April 1, with payments accepted only through FASTag or UPI. Cash transactions will be discontinued at all 19 interchanges managed by HGCL.

Hyderabad: All the toll plazas of Outer Ring Road (ORR) are set to completely go for cashless transactions starting April 1.

The ORR users who do not have FASTag presently have the option of making cash payment of toll charges which would be completely dispensed with by shifting to UPI-based QR code payments from April 1. This follows the union government decision to implement cashless transactions at National Highway toll plazas.

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While vehicles with FASTag facility, which work with RFID technology, are automatically scanned at toll plazas, those without the FASTag can use apps such as PhonePe, Paytm and Google Pay to make the toll payments.

The Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited (HGCL) manages 19 interchange toll plazas along the ORR at Pedda Amberpet, Medchal, Kokapet, Rajendranagar, Shamshabad, Edulnagulapally, Patancheru, Shamirpet, Ghatkesar, Keesara, TGPA, Nanakramguda, Pedda Golconda, Ravirayal, Tukkuguda, Taramatipeta, Sultanpur, Saragudem and Bonguluru.

A senior HGCL official said cash transactions entailed issues of handling hard cash, transporting it, and storing bundles of cash at toll booths. Moreover, users cannot tender the exact change which often resulted in heated arguments between users and toll booth operators.

Apart from issues of transparency in maintaining records, it also came with security risks like robberies and thefts while storing and transporting the cash.

Revised ORR toll rates likely from April 1, 2026:

According to a senior HGCL official, currently, the HGCL is implementing toll rates revised in April 2024, at all 19 interchange toll plazas, but it did not revise the toll rates on April 1, 2025, due to various reasons.
The revised rates were under active consideration and were likely to be implemented from April 1, 2026, meaning after a gap of two years, the revised ORR toll rates would come into force from April 1.