In three months, Bengaluru will get 2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots, if there are no hold-ups in regulatory clearances, said Gaurav Gupta, Principal Secretary, Industries, IT, Biotechnology, and Science and Technology.
These hotspots will work in smaller public places such as malls, metro stations, and bus stations.
According to Mr. Gupta, the idea of a city-wide Wi-Fi access has not been a success anywhere in the world as most users have access to fast Internet connections with low data prices.
The government has decided that it would be more effective to offer Wi-Fi service at key hubs. “We have identified 2,000 such spots and concluded the tender for vendors,” Mr. Gupta added.
The project initially faced a few issues with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), but these have been ironed out with the intervention of Minister for Industries, IT, Biotechnology, and Science and Technology K.J. George, who visited The Hindu , Bengaluru, for an interaction on Thursday.
“I recently held a review meeting and spoke to the BBMP Commissioner to remove any blocks for the project,” said Mr. George.
“The Wi-Fi devices can be installed on existing infrastructure and where infrastructure does not exist, vendors need to invest in them and pay the BBMP ground rent,” Mr. Gupta said.
The BBMP council recently approved a policy to charge ₹50,000 for each telecommunication tower annually. The policy is pending approval with the State government.
M.K. Gunashekhar, former chairman of the standing committee on taxation and finance who spearheaded the policy in 2017, said the fee charged was the stipulated ground rent for any telecommunication tower. New poles for Wi-Fi devices were also covered under the ambit.
Mr. George has now sought to make a distinction between small poles to be put up to install Wi-Fi devices that can cover a smaller area, and telecommunication towers that have a larger scope.
BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad confirmed that all issues had been sorted out and the project would soon be run. “Pending approval of the telecom towers policy, we have decided to go ahead with the project,” he said.
‘Talks with BIAL over reopening HAL airport’
Decongesting Bengaluru and easing commute to the Kempegowda International Airport is a priority for the government.
“We are in talks with BIAL over reopening HAL airport in east Bengaluru towards this end,” said Mr. George.
“The agreement the State government has signed with BIAL during its inception has a clause of closing down the HAL airport. But now that thhe KIA is performing extremely well, BIAL can consider relaxing this clause. We will take up the issue with them,” Mr. George said.
‘Water tariff hike unjust’
The decision to hike water tariff for industrial use by nearly 10,000 times has been put on hold. A decision on any revision of tariff will be taken by the Cabinet, Mr. George said.
“The hike in tariff by the Water Resources Department is unjust. The argument that there has been no hike in a long time does not justify such a hike. I cannot accept it as the Industries Minister. I have aired my concern and the hike has been put on hold,” said Mr. George. When asked whether there will be any hike at all, he replied that only the Cabinet can take a decision.
