Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will disconnect unauthorised optic fibre cables (OFC) from June 1 if they are not regularised by the service providers concerned, stated Yediyur councillor N.R. Ramesh, chairperson of the civic body’s OFC Committee.
Addressing reporters on Tuesday, he alleged that approximately 65,000 km of OFC had been laid in the city over the past 15 years. “However, in the affidavits submitted to BBMP, service providers declared just over 7,400 km. The fee collected in this period is only Rs. 21.67 crore,” he said. For the 174 km that has been shown as unauthorised in the affidavits, the civic body had collected Rs. 16.28 crore as penalty, he added.
Under the circumstances, a BBMP team would identify unauthorised cables and call representatives from the companies concerned for verification. “Once verified, they can regularise the same by paying a fee of Rs. 1,700 per metre. Else, it will be disconnected,” Mr. Ramesh said.
BBMP has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collect an annual ground rent of Rs. 850 per metre and recover costs of road repair from service providers.
A security deposit of Rs. 150 per metre will be collected. It will be returned after two years, based on the condition of the road.
The MoU mandates that service providers take up road restoration and get the same certified by either Civil Aid or Association of Engineers. The two organisations were selected by mutual consent. The permission to lay OFC should be renewed every 15 years.
Of the 11 telecom service providers, 10 have signed the MoU.
Of the 20 non-telecom/internet service providers, nine have signed up. The BBMP expects annual revenue of around Rs. 600 crore.
