Bangalore: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has been planning to take action against telecom companies that have dug up roads illegally to lay optical fibre cables (OFCs). But with telecom companies allegedly lobbying with the Urban Development Department, it looks like their hands are tied for now. Chief secretary SV Ranganath has directed the BBMP not to take action against the companies till a committee chaired by the additional chief secretary and urban development rules on the issue.

The matter came up recently during a BBMP council meet when Yediyur corporator NR Ramesh furnished documents which noted that of the 13 telecom service companies, many had laid cables flouting permit norms. Precisely, they laid 10 times the permitted level.

"OFCs were also laid inside sewage pipes blocking the flow of sewer. The companies have made huge profits by laying cables and have paid a meagre amount to the BBMP," Ramesh said. These companies have laid nearly 4,000 km of OFCs, he added.

In May, the BBMP launched a drive to remove OFCs from trees, electric and telephone poles, and other such places. It also decided to formulate a new policy to regulate and control the laying of OFCs. Deputy Mayor S Harish set a 10-day deadline for service provider and contractors to register at the BBMP head office. A separate cell will be set up for the registration process.

Setback to BBMP

When the BBMP removed illegal OFCs and seized vehicles involved in digging of roads, telecom companies approached the government for help. On 12 July, Ranganath and others officers met representatives of 11 telecom companies. In a letter to the BBMP, Ranganath said that the BBMP had decided to stop issuing new permits until it formulated a new policy on laying OFCs.

In a letter written to companies on 13 June, the BBMP additional commissioner requested them to provide details on OFCs laid by them in the past 10 years.

Ranganath said that the service providers did not object to paying the rights of way (RoW) fee, but were opposed to ground rent. They cited that other metros did not collect ground rent. Also, when compared to Bangalore, RoW is lower in Delhi, Hyderabad and Chandigarh. Chennai's metropolitan authority does levy a RoW rent, but collects Rs 9,400 per km annually. But the BBMP has proposed to collect Rs 120 per cable and per meter as ground rent, that is, Rs 3.3 lakh RoW fee per km. The money will be used to reconstruct roads and footpath.

Ranganath has said that telecom infrastructure providers and OFC laying companies should provide details sought by the BBMP before 31 July. A two-member committee has been formed to frame guidelines for laying OFC and collecting rent. The committee has also been advised to consider rules framed by other cities.

Ranganath has ordered that until the committee makes a decision, the BBMP should not take action against the companies. Deputy Mayor S Harish said that illegal OFC laying and road-digging had to be stopped.